Kidneys are one of the most vital organs in our body since they help remove excess waste and leave it in our system. However, just like any other organ, they can face some difficulties with their functionality.

But how can you go about examining if your kidneys are working fine? While for mild issues self-assessment might be enough – but severe conditions require the interference of a medical professional and a KFT test. In this article, we will see how you can know if your kidneys need your attention. You can also take Craft Body Scan to get a wider view.

When Should You Get Your Kidney Checked?

Many symptoms could point toward a kidney problem or disease. These symptoms could help guide us toward a healthy body and kidneys. If you suffer from any of the following symptoms, it is best to get a KFT test done:

• Trouble concentrating
• Feeling tired and restless
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Sleep-related problems
• An increase or decrease in the urination frequency
• Pain during urination
• Swelling of feet and angles
• The feeling of itchiness or dryness
• shortness of breath
• frequent chest pain

Some several conditions and habits also strain your kidneys over time, such as:

• substance abuse
• diabetes
• cardiovascular diseases
• family history of kidney diseases
• abnormal kidney structures

What Are Kidney Tests?

Once you suspect that there is something wrong with your kidneys, you must get checked by a medical professional. There are various KFT test options to measure the proper functioning of a kidney, these tests can be classified as blood tests, urine tests, image tests, and kidney biopsy; each of these tests is different in their administration and helps to analyse various functions of the kidney.

• Blood test

Just as the name suggests, this test requires a small sample of blood to be drawn and tested. The process is not a very complicated one and can be administered by a local blood test lab or a hospital.

• Imaging testing

This kind of test is done by getting an ultrasound or a CT scan. The ultrasound test images use sound waves to show any abnormalities in the structure of the kidney for any kind of obstruction due to tumours or stones. The CT scan uses the X-ray of the kidney to find any kind of abnormalities or diseases in the Kidney.

• Urine Tests

A Urine test is a test that requires a sample of urine. The test is administered on a sample of urine which is collected in a transparent glass vessel to avoid any reactions or changes. This test can be administered in two ways, the first is collection of urine for 24 hours and the second is to do fasting for 8 to 12 hours and then collecting a sample.

The Urine test includes Urinalysis, Urine Protein, and Microalbuminuria Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (ACR) test and analysis and helps detect kidney and urinary tract-related disorders.

• Kidney biopsy

A kidney biopsy is also used to test the kidney for any tumour or cancer. It is conducted by using a thin needle to slice small pieces of kidney tissue and then the pieces are tested for infection or tumour. It helps identify any disease that the kidney may have.

• Kidney Function Test

A kidney Function Test or KFT test is part of kidney blood tests. It is a comprehensive test that checks how well the kidney is working. The KFT tests can help measure the level of Serum Creatinine, Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN). All these three things measure essential attributes of kidney functioning.

Serum Creatinine is a waste produced by the kidney, its levels vary depending upon the age and weight of an individual. Although a level greater than 1.2 and 1.4 for women and men may indicate problems with the kidney.

If the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) level is below 60, it is implied the kidney is not working properly. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) is also an important test, as urea helps break a protein, if the level is more than 20, it indicates a serious problem with kidney functioning.

Conducting Kidney Tests

All KFT test procedures are easy to conduct. Most of them require a sample of either blood or urine, generally requiring prior fasting according to the doctor’s consultation. The image screening test doesn’t require any sample, just simple screening.

The KFT test (biopsy) requires a cut piece, it can lead to dizziness and fatigue after the administration. It can also lead to bleeding and pain, later on, one needs to consult a doctor in case of any difficulty or complications.

Conclusion

In this article, we say how there are various KFT test options available to check whether the kidneys are working fine. We also looked at the various aspects that the tests check, with various symptoms and risk factors that could affect the kidney, and how one should get a test done if the symptoms match. Hopefully, this article will help you examine if your Kidneys are working fine and clear all doubts about a KFT test.

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