How to Reduce High Urea Level in Blood
Urea is a waste substance that comes from the breakdown of proteins and amino acids in the liver. High levels of urea can indicate that the kidneys are not functioning properly. Urea levels can be measured through the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test. Then how to reduce high urea level in blood? Check out the discussion in this article.
Ideally, the kidneys can function to filter and remove urea from the blood through urine. If urea accumulates in the blood, it can cause various health problems. This is because this substance is toxic and needs to be removed from the body through the kidneys and then excreted in the urine.
Causes of High Urea Level
Urea levels in the blood have normal limits. The normal limits for urea levels are distinguished by gender and age.
The following is a breakdown of the normal limits for urea levels in the blood:
- Children 1–17 years: 7–20 mg/dL
- Adult women: 6–21 mg/dL
- Adult men: 8–24 mg/dL
Urea levels in the blood are too high (> 50 mg/dL) this condition is referred to as uremia. High levels of urea can cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and leg cramps.
Some of the causes of increased urea level in blood are as follows:
- Severe dehydration
- Excessive consumption of high protein foods
- Pregnancy
- Blockage in the urinary tract
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Kidney failure
- Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract
- Severe burns
- Taking certain antibiotics
How to Control High Urea Level in Blood
If uremia is not treated immediately it can endanger health. Therefore, immediately treat uremia by lowering the level of urea in the blood. The ways that can be done are as follows:
1. Fulfill your body's fluid intake
Lack of fluid intake can lead to dehydration. One of the causes of high levels of urea in the blood is because the body is dehydrated. This is because water is needed by the body as a carrier for residual substances from the blood to be filtered by the kidneys into urine.
So, if the body lacks water, the filtering of waste substances in the kidneys becomes hampered. Therefore, meet the intake of body fluids so that the level of urea in the blood is not high.
2. Limit protein intake
Consuming foods that are high in protein is good for the body. However, consuming foods that are high in protein in excess can actually increase levels of urea and creatinine. Therefore, to reduce levels of urea in the blood you need to limit protein intake. A person generally only needs about 50-60 grams of protein per day. The amount of protein is equivalent to 200 grams of boneless chicken breast.
3. Eat more fiber-rich foods
Consuming fibrous foods in addition to maintaining the health of the digestive tract is also proven to reduce urea levels. Foods rich in fiber include vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains.
Thus an explanation of how to reduce high urea level in blood, hopefully this explanation can be useful.
