What should your creatinine level be with one kidney?

Are you one of the lone rangers who has only one kidney? Firstly, let me assure you that having a single functioning renal unit is not something to worry about. But it does beg the question, what should your creatinine level be with one kidney? For those who are unaware, creatinine is a chemical waste product produced by your muscles and excreted in urine via the kidneys. Before we delve deeper into answering this query, let’s just take a minute to appreciate our kidneys.

Let’s Hand It to Our Kidneys

Our two individual-sized bean-shaped organs located at either side of our spine do us so much good! For starters, they filter our blood and remove waste products from our body as well as balance electrolytes and fluids in the body. Not forgetting their crucial role in producing hormones that regulate blood pressure, support bone health and aid RBC (red blood cell) production – Thanks for keeping us alive each day!

Anyway back on topic now…

The Normal Range for Creatinine Levels

Okay moment of truth; how can we determine if our creatinine levels are healthy or not? Actually very easily- A quick standard test ordered by your doctor called Serum Creatinine Test can estimate glomerular filtration rate-(GFR), thus indicating whether any issues have arisen due to compromised kidney function. Normally, 0.6 mg/dL(mt/lt) – 1.2mg/dL(mt/lt) is considered an acceptable range for serum creatine depending on age group .

But once someone undergoes nephrectomy (removal of one kidney), it’s reasonable to expect some fluctuations here since their remaining organ would start doing double duty hence increasing its workload.

Sorry folks but there isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer for this question since everyone’s body is unique. But, with nephrectomy- It can increase serum creatinine up to 50% or normal level in athletes due to affected tissue mass during sudden loss of kidney function.

The Aging Process & Creatinine

As we age, it’s common for our GFR to decrease as a result of what? Reduced physical functioning (compliments arthritis),  decreased fluid consumption and other factors, which may have an on your appraisal levels too.

Here are some fun facts for you(put these out as bullet points):
– Serum creatine is also measured alongside urea / BUN (blood urea nitrogen)
– Normal concentration values: 2.5 –7.1 mmol/L
– Creatinine clearance rate measure reflects the volume of blood cleared per minute; roughly about 120 mL per minute on average.

To sum up our short exploration today regarding what should your creatinine level be with one kidney – there isn’t exactly a categorical answer due to person-dependent variables like age, overall health and specific medical history that influences their optimal serum creatine threshold value; but generally speaking post-nephrectomy, expect fluctuations within acceptable ranges!

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