Blood Urea

Blood urea is a waste product in your body. It is the final breakdown product of the amino acids that are present in proteins. When proteins break down, they produce nitrogen in the form of ammonia in the liver. This nitrogen combines with other chemicals in the liver to form the waste product called urea. The urea is released into the blood and carried to the kidneys where it is filtered out of the blood and flushed out through urine. Usually, healthy kidneys remove more than 90% of the urea the body produces; therefore, determining blood urea levels can show how well your kidneys are working.

Your doctor may advise the Blood Urea test if you experience symptoms such as frequent urination, swelling in the ankles and feet, restless legs during sleep, mental confusion, and pain in the middle back. The doctor may also recommend this test if you are at risk of kidney disease; are suffering from diabetes, have high blood pressure or heart disease; or have a family history of kidney disease. The test may also be used to determine the effectiveness of dialysis treatment. Usually, no special preparation is required for the Blood Urea test; eat and drink as per your daily routine.

Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between different labs depending on the methodology and laboratory guidelines. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. Narrate your complete medical history to help the doctor correlate your clinical and laboratory findings. The test results will help them determine your medical condition, make recommendations for lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, decide whether or not medication will be required to manage your kidney health, and formulate your overall treatment plan.