When you test out the urea levels present in your blood, it will give you information about your kidneys and how well it is functioning. Blood Urea Nitrogen or BUN is a common blood test advised by doctors to assess the urea levels in your blood. But what causes fluctuations in BUN levels? Let us find out through this post.
Why is the BUN Test Conducted?
Before heading to the main part, you must know why exactly the doctors order or recommend the Blood Urea Nitrogen test. The reasons are:
- When you have a family history of kidney-related diseases.
- Having high blood pressure or Hypertension.
- Heart conditions.
- Diabetes.
- To help determine the effectiveness of the dialysis treatment.
- When the kidney functions need to be evaluated.
- If the physician suspects that you might have kidney damage or disease.
Having High Levels of BUN
The Symptoms
When you have a higher level of BUN, you will surely experience these signs or symptoms:
- Itchiness.
- Frequent urination.
- Back Pain.
- Poor Appetite.
- Bone Pain.
- Discolored Urine [The urine is foamy, dark, or bloody].
- Joint Pain.
- Restless Legs
- Trouble Sleeping
- Muscle Cramping
- Fatigue
The Causes
Apart from the symptoms, the high levels of BUN are due to numerous reasons. You should consult a doctor and follow their instructions when you wish to lessen the higher levels of blood urea nitrogen in your body. So, what causes the urea levels to increase? Here are certain factors to know:
- Severe Burns.
- Following a high protein diet.
- Kidney failure or disease.
- Infection or fever.
- Interval training or inflammation.
- Low water consumption or dehydration.
- Stress.
- Gut Bleeding.
- Poor circulation lessens the blood flow to your kidneys.
- Tetracyclines, glucocorticoids, and various other anti-anabolic drugs.
- IGF-1 or lower growth hormone.
What Causes the Low Levels of BUN?
The blood urea nitrogen low levels are caused due to several reasons, and they are:
- Starvation, low-protein diet, and malnutrition.
- Growth hormone and a higher level of IGF-1. The growth hormone deficiency occurs in children due to the reduction of urea synthesis.
- Impaired activity of the liver because of liver-related disease.
- The genetic deficiency of the urea cycle enzymes.
- Low levels of BUN also occur because of anabolic steroids. They lessen the protein breakdown.
- Drinking too much water or overhydration.
- Pregnancy [Because of the increase in the plasma volume].
What Happens During the Blood Urea Nitrogen Test?
Blood Urea Nitrogen is viewed as an uncomplicated blood draw, and it’s not that risky. You will sit on the chair, and the physician or doctor will insert a needle into the arm and then draw out some blood.
You might feel a small prick when the needle gets inserted, and the area will also be bruised. Marks that are left behind due to the injection will surely disappear quickly, and you can remove the bandage tape placed on that area after several hours.
Preparing for the BUN Test: How to Do So?
When it comes to preparing for the blood urea nitrogen test, you don’t have to do anything. But on certain occasions, the healthcare professional might suggest you opt for other blood tests. For that, you have to fast, which means not drinking or eating before the test. Make sure to speak with the physician about whether or not you have to fast before you get the blood work done.
What is the Normal Range of the BUN Test?
The BUN test results are presented in milligrams per deciliter [mg/dL] and millimoles per liter [mmol/L]. According to experts, an adult’s blood should contain 5mg to 20mg of urea nitrogen in 100 ml of blood, or 1.8 mmol urea per liter or 7.1 mmol urea per liter.
To convert from milligrams per deciliter of BUN to millimoles per liter of urea, just divide by 0.357. If you can’t comprehend the BUN findings on your own, you may always ask your doctor to explain them to you. However, urea nitrogen levels are thought to increase with age. It indicates that newborns and children have lower amounts of urea nitrogen than adults.
Conclusion
The Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) test is used to gather information about a person’s health. The test will also assist doctors in determining whether or not a patient has a kidney ailment. This post will teach you more about the BUN test and what causes urea nitrogen levels to rise or fall.
