How Do You Understand A High BUN Test?
The BUN test, or blood urea nitrogen test, is a blood test designed to show the level of nitrogen that is in the bloodstream. This nitrogen is a byproduct of urea. When protein is broken down in the liver, urea is made and passed on through the body in the form of urine. If there is urea nitrogen in the blood then it shows doctors and healthcare professionals that kidney function is not moving the waste out of the body in the correct manner. BUN tests need to be done a certain way. Patients should not eat protein (meat, beans, etc) a day before the test (a full 24 hours). At the office they will draw blood and then put gauze and medical tape where the needle was inserted to remove the blood. It will not be any different than any other blood test you’ve received. It is then sent to the lab for testing of nitrogen levels. For the most part, BUN tests fall in to the normal range at 10-20 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter). High BUN level numbers can mean different things; these are some of
