You may be wondering if you have a kidney problem, but you've been holding off on seeing a doctor for some time, which is a more common practice than you think, and it's better to find out sooner than later if you have chronic kidney disease.

People often avoid going to the doctor because they're afraid of intensive testing or don't want the diagnosis to make their health condition feel more natural. However, proper testing and diagnosis are the first steps to treating any disease, and ignoring the problem only leads to worse health issues later.

Doctors can use various methods to test your kidneys' health and functionality. Here are some of the most common ones.

The Importance of Tests in Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment

It's imperative to understand that putting off a trip to the doctor to check on the health of your kidneys is a mistake. However, if you avoid getting tested for chronic kidney disease at the right time, it can severely impact your long-term health.

Early diagnosis has significantly decreased morbidity and mortality rates of people suffering from chronic kidney disease. The sooner the diagnosis is determined, the minor damage the condition can do to your body without your knowledge.

Chronic kidney disease treatment is impossible without a precise diagnosis. It's important to understand that the steps you take to protect the health of your kidneys will be helpful and practical.   

If you don't appreciate that your effort to protect your kidney health is worthwhile, you probably won't stick to the lifestyle changes necessary, and you might stop taking medicine to treat the illness. 

A diagnosis isn't the beginning of the end; it's an opportunity to reassess the situation and make future healthy choices, and it can save your life.

Tests for Chronic Kidney Disease

There's nothing to fear from these tests. Most are noninvasive, and the more invasive tests like biopsies are mild procedures.

Urinalysis

Urinalysis is one of the first steps in diagnosing kidney problems.

All you need to do is provide a urine sample, which can be collected at the doctor's office. Remember to avoid going to the bathroom and waste the sample before your visit. You'll have to wait until you can go again, which inconveniences you. 

The urine sample will then be tested for irregularities, such as high concentrations of a protein called albumin.

Your liver creates albumin. It's typically filtered back into your bloodstream rather than being excreted, but when your kidneys aren't fully functioning, it can make its way into your urine. The presence of albumin suggests it's worth taking a closer look at your kidneys as there is likely some damage.

Blood Analysis

Your kidneys are responsible for filtering your blood, so testing the concentration of compounds such as creatine in your blood is another standard diagnosis method, which is done by measuring your glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

The filters in your kidneys are called glomeruli. If they're working correctly, your GFR should be very high as the kidneys successfully filter your blood at a high and efficient rate.

Your GFR should ideally be over 90, which means your kidneys are still functioning at 90% efficiency, but anything over 60 is considered healthy. However, if your GFR is under 60, there might be kidney damage.

Ultrasound Imaging

Your doctor might refer you to a specialist for a kidney ultrasound. This allows the specialist to look at the size and shape of your kidneys so they can spot any irregularities that could be consistent with poor kidney function.

The ultrasound may reveal abnormalities in your kidneys or other sources of kidney disease such as cysts.

Biopsy

In some cases where kidney damage seems severe, you may need to get a biopsy.

In a biopsy, a small sample of your kidney is removed through a thin needle, which is sent to a lab for testing, where specialists can analyze it in detail, which is the most effective method for diagnosing kidney disease. Still, it's not necessary for most people.

Diagnosing End-Stage Renal Disease

Blood analysis has the added benefit of helping clinicians understand how far along your chronic kidney disease has progressed. However, if you are just under the threshold, you can probably make a few changes to your diet and exercise routine and have no trouble. For example, if your GFR dips below 15, this is considered a strong indicator of end-stage renal disease.

At this point, your kidneys can no longer filter your blood on their own. However, once kidney failure occurs, you will likely need to start dialysis to filter your blood correctly as a normal kidney does. This is why seeking medical attention early is so important.

Conclusion

Understanding that early diagnosis of kidney disease leads to the best outcome is critical. And making that diagnosis is easier than you think.  

Your doctor will work with you to ensure you're comfortable and fully informed about what's happening in any testing so you can confidently learn about your kidney health.