The BUN test measures the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood.. This test tells your doctor whether your kidneys are working properly.. The normal range for BUN in a blood test depends on your age and gender, and abnormal levels may indicate disease, including kidney damage.. End.

What is the BUN test?

BUN Test or Blood Urea Nitrogen Test As the name suggests, it measures the amount of urea nitrogen in your blood. Urea nitrogen is a waste product that is created from the breakdown of proteins in food. It is formed in your liver, travels through the blood to the kidneys, and is then excreted through the urine.>

The level of blood urea nitrogen is one of the indicators that helps the doctor to check the function of the kidneys. It is normal to have a small amount of urea nitrogen in the blood.

Learn more: How does hyperuricemia develop?

Although BUN can be tested individually, it is usually measured along with other substances in the blood that can reflect kidney function.

If your blood sample is only tested for blood urea nitrogen, you don't need to fast before the blood draw... but if other tests are done on your blood sample, you may need to refrain from eating and drinking for a certain period of time... So, you should consult your doctor about the conditions of the BUN test.

The reason for doing the BUN test

Blood urea nitrogen test shows kidney function.... This test may be used to diagnose, screen, or monitor the course of treatment.

1.... diagnosis

If you are experiencing symptoms of kidney disease, such as changes in urine volume, swelling of the hands or feet, muscle cramps, or extreme fatigue, a BUN test can help find the cause.

2... screening

A screening doctor tries to diagnose a specific disease before signs or symptoms appear. The BUN test is ordered as part of a basic metabolic panel (BMP) or comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) to screen for kidney disease.. Both BMP and CMP are blood tests that measure the levels of certain substances in the blood.

Screening may be recommended if you are at risk of developing kidney disease because of diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, or a family history of kidney disease.

3... monitoring

Monitoring means that your doctor tracks your changes over time.. For example, he may use a BUN test to check how well your kidneys are working over a relatively long period of time, or to assess your response to treatment if you have kidney problems.. Sometimes, when your doctor wants to check the side effects of new drugs for your kidneys, he will recommend kidney function tests, including BUN.

Learn more: What is the effect of kidney stones on obesity?

Learn more: What is an intravenous pyelogram?

Symptoms of high BUN in the body

If high BUN is caused by kidney disease, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Urine frequency
• Foamy urine
• Observation of blood in urine
• fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Swelling, especially in the hands and feet

See more: Testing at home

Symptoms of low BUN

If the decrease in BUN is related to malnutrition, you are probably weak and tired and have a weak immune system... If liver disease is the cause of BUN decrease, the following symptoms appear:

• yellowing of the skin and whiteness of the eyes
• Abdominal pains
• Anorexia
• Unwanted weight loss
• Itchy skin
• Changing the color of urine or feces
• Nausea or vomiting

Interpretation of BUN test

The normal value of BUN in a blood test is different depending on your age and gender. In addition, laboratories may use different methods to measure BUN, and the normal range of this test varies from one laboratory to another. Therefore, the test result should be interpreted by a doctor. But in general, the normal range of BUN can be defined as follows:

The result of the BUN test in pregnancy may be different from the high values.... because during this period, the level of blood urea nitrogen naturally decreases.

Learn more: Who is a male and female urologist?

Cause of high BUN in blood

Doctors usually consider your symptoms and other measured parameters to interpret the BUN test result and how it relates to your health... because BUN alone cannot indicate kidney function.

Elevated BUN can occur due to kidney disease, but even if your kidneys are working properly, the following factors may increase BUN levels:

• following a high protein diet
• Dehydration
• Increasing age (BUN levels are lower in infants and children)
Certain medications such as carbamazepine, methotrexate, and tetracycline
• Burn
Obstruction in the urinary system that prevents urination
• Stress
• Heart attack
Gastrointestinal bleeding

Learn more: What is the connection between kidney stones and diabetes?

The cause of low BUN in blood test

Decreased BUN is not common.... However, the following factors may affect blood urea nitrogen and decrease its level:

• Malnutrition
• Protein deficiency in the diet
• Presence of excess water in the body
• Liver disease

Tests related to the BUN test

Doctors usually also check blood creatinine levels... because the blood urea nitrogen test alone doesn't help much with kidney function... but when measured and compared to creatinine, it gives a more complete picture of what's going on in your kidneys.

Creatinine is a waste product from the breakdown of muscle tissue that is excreted by the kidneys.. so an increase in it can indicate kidney dysfunction.. The ideal ratio of BUN to creatinine is between 10 to 1 and 20 to 1. be.

If your doctor suspects kidney problems, he may recommend other tests, such as glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Learn more: Does the kidney stone diet help the patient recover?

Frequently Asked Questions

A final word about the BUN test

Urea nitrogen is a waste material that is formed after the breakdown of proteins in the liver. Sometimes, the level of this substance in your blood is too high or too low... A variety of factors, from kidney disease to the amount of protein in the diet, can affect the BUN test. href="https://gcorp.cc/">GCORP LLC and make an appointment with a nephrologist for an in-person visit or online consultation with a nephrologist.

Sources: my.clevelandclinic, test, webmd