Ever looked at your blood work and wondered, "What *is* creatinine?" Simply put, creatinine is a waste product produced by your muscles during normal activity. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering it out of your blood, and it's then eliminated through urine.
So, why is it measured in blood work? A creatinine test is a key indicator of how well your kidneys are functioning. Elevated creatinine levels can suggest that your kidneys aren't effectively filtering waste, potentially signaling kidney disease or damage. Dehydration, certain medications, and high protein diets can also temporarily affect creatinine levels.
Normal creatinine ranges vary slightly between labs and depend on factors like age, sex, and muscle mass. If your creatinine levels are outside the normal range, your doctor will investigate further to determine the underlying cause and recommend the appropriate course of action. Understanding creatinine is a vital step in monitoring and maintaining your overall health!
