A Comprehensive Guide to Glomerular Filtration Rate

A Comprehensive Guide to Glomerular Filtration Rate : Understanding your glomerular filtration rate is the key to understanding how healthy your kidneys are. When you can monitor the rate your kidneys are working, you can stay informed as to whether or not you need to change your lifestyle to improve your health.

Here is what you ought to know about how to monitor your kidney health and what changes you can make to improve it.

What is your Glomerular Filtration Rate?

The glomerular filtration rate shows the speed at which your kidneys filter your blood. Your kidneys’ main job in the body is to filter out free radicals, oxidants, and other ‘bad’ particles which your blood would otherwise carry around your body with it infinitely. This is how infections spread and how blood-borne diseases work.

How do you check your filtration rate?

Keeping your glomerular filtration rate at or above the average rate means keeping your overall health in check. According to the National Kidney Foundation, some 37 million adults in the US have chronic kidney diseases, and some of us don’t even know it. You can use a GFR calculator to estimate your glomerular filtration rate and work out if your kidneys are healthy or not. If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from kidney disease, the ongoing monitoring of your GFR should be as continuous as your check-ups.

Why check your GFR?

Checking your glomerular filtration rate will help you stay on top of potential health concerns. If you have a family history of diabetes, for example, monitoring your GFR can help you get early warning signs of any symptoms. GFR can indicate the presence of other health problems, too. If you keep checking the level, it can help predict:

Diabetes
CKD or kidney failure
Obesity-related health concerns
High blood pressure
Diseases caused by old age

Who needs to check their GFR?

You should regularly check your GFR if you have a family history of any of the above diseases or if you have one of the above conditions. You should also have regular blood filtration check-ups if you are over the age of 60. Older people are at greater risk of developing kidney-related health problems.

Your doctor or related medical professional will send you for a test regarding your GFR levels if you express any of the following symptoms:

Running back and forth to the toilet more than usual
Excessive tiredness
Itching of the skin
Swelling of the extremities
Excessive nausea or vomiting
Or an extreme loss of appetite

All of the above could be symptoms of CKD or kidney failure. You should see a doctor if you think you are facing kidney problems. GFR calculations can help you to address any health concerns while they are still in the early stages.

Changes you can make to Improve GFR

If you want to improve the glomerular filtration rate, you can make certain lifestyle changes that will help. Try the following things to improve your rate.

Eat a balanced diet

Improving your diet will improve your GFR. You should avoid highly processed foods, and you should especially stay away from sodium.

Stay in shape

Being overweight is a huge cause of kidney filtration problems. If you want to fight off bad health, give yourself the best chance by getting in shape. Any exercise you do will improve your GFR.

Drink lots of water

Your kidneys use water to flush through those toxins. If you drink plenty of water and incorporate this into your lifestyle, your GFR should increase.

Upping your GFR Boosts Overall Health

If you institute these changes and keep monitoring your GFR, you will soon notice an improvement.