Renin Activity is also known as Plasma renin activity (PRA) or the renin (active) assay or random plasma renin. It is a measurement of the movement of the plasma enzyme renin, which plays the main role in the body's parameter of blood pressure, thirst, and urine output. PRA is sometimes measured, specifically in case of certain diseases which present with hypertension or hypotension. PRA is also elevated in certain tumors. A PRA measurement may be linked to a plasma aldosterone concentration as an aldosterone-to-renin ratio.
Like the other tests, it is also done by collecting a blood sample from the human body. To get this test done take an appointment with the Doctor beforehand. Go empty stomach as it will give more clear results. When you go for the test wear short sleeves or sleeveless T-Shirt as it would be easy for a lab technician to take a blood sample from your arm. If you are under consumption of any kind of medicine, supplements, alcohol, drugs etc., do tell the doctor before undergoing the test.
If the level of Renin Activity is higher than the normal level than the person is facing certain problems such as:-
· Addison’s disease
· Cirrhosis of the liver
· Essential hypertension
· Hemorrhage
· Hypokalemia
· Malignant hypertension
· Renin producing renal tumors
· Renovascular hypertension
If the renin activity is lower than the normal level than it is:-
· ADH therapy
· Salt retaining steroid therapy
· Salt-sensitive essential hypertension
· Primary Hyperaldosteronism
The procedure for taking the blood sample is an easy one. The blood will be taken from your arm. First, an elastic band will be tied to your arm. This will swell up the veins and blood will pump out. The lab technician will clean the area with an antiseptic. A prick will be made and blood will be collected in the tube. After that, the elastic band is removed and the needle is taken out. The lab technician will apply Band-Aid in the area to stop the blood.
| Type | Gender | Age-Group | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Plasma Renin Activity
|
Unisex
|
All age groups
|
1.2-2.4 ng/ml/hour
|
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is defined as blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm hg. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are a major cause of maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, both in developing and developed countries. Hypertension is the most common medical problem in pregnancy.
If high blood pressure continues after 20 weeks of pregnancy, preeclampsia and other complications can develop.
What causes high blood pressure during pregnancy?
According to the national heart, lung, and blood institute (nhlbi), there are several possible causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy.
These include:
- being overweight or obese
- failing to stay active
- smoking
- drinking alcohol
- first-time pregnancy
- a family history of pregnancy-related hypertension
- carrying more than one child
- assistive technology (such as ivf)
- maternal age is also a factor, with pregnant women over the age of 40 being more at risk.
BP measurement:
# use a sitting or semi-reclining position so that the arm to be used is at the level of the heart.
# do not take the bp in the upper arm with the woman on her side, as this will give falsely lower readings.
What are the complications of high blood pressure during pregnancy?
- if high blood pressure continues after 20 weeks of pregnancy, there can be complications. Preeclampsia can develop.
What is preeclampsia?
This condition can cause serious damage to your organs, including your brain and kidneys. Preeclampsia is also known as toxemia or pregnancy-induced hypertension. Preeclampsia with seizures becomes eclampsia. This can be fatal.
Thorough prenatal care, including regular doctor’s visits, should be able to address preeclampsia symptoms. Symptoms include:
@protein in a urine sample
Abnormal swelling in hands and feet
@persistent headaches
Preventing high blood pressure during pregnancy:
Common risk factors for high blood pressure, such as obesity and a history of high blood pressure, can be minimized through diet and exercise. Of course, during pregnancy, it is inevitable that you will gain some weight. It’s recommended that pregnant women consult with their doctor to identify a weight gain target that is healthy for them.
Dietary guidelines for pregnant women vary from person to person. Speak with a nutritionist who will keep your specific height and weight in mind when creating a nutrition plan for you.
The nhlbi emphasizes that it’s important to take steps to lessen your risk of high blood pressure. You should steer clear of smoking and drinking alcohol, both of which have been known to raise blood pressure.
Pregnancy causes hormone shifts, as well as psychological and physical changes. This can bring on stress, which can make high blood pressure harder to manage. Try stress reduction techniques such as yoga and meditation.
Management:
Management depends on the woman's bp, gestational age and blood flow in the placenta. Non-pharmacological management is recommended for many women but is not recommended when there is the presence of associated maternal and fetal risk factors. Non-pharmacological management includes close supervision, limitation of activities, and some bed rest in the left lateral position.
All pregnant women should receive antenatal education so that they are aware of the symptoms associated with pre-eclampsia, its importance, and the need to obtain medical advice.
Such symptoms include:
Severe headache.
Visual problems: blurred vision or flashing before the eyes.
Severe epigastric pain.
Vomiting.
Sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet.
Women who are at high risk of pre-eclampsia are recommended to take 75 mg aspirin daily from 12 weeks of gestation to delivery. Such women are those with:
- hypertension or pre-eclampsia/eclampsia in a past pregnancy.
- chronic kidney disease.
- autoimmune disease (eg, systemic lupus erythematosus (sle) or antiphospholipid syndrome).
- diabetes mellitus (both type 1 or 2).
- chronic hypertension.
Women should also take 75 mg aspirin daily from the 12th week if they have any two of the following features:- in their first pregnancy.
- aged ≥40 years.
- previous pregnancy >10 years ago.
- body mass index (bmi) of ≥35 kg/m2 at booking.
- family history of pre-eclampsia.
- multiple pregnancy.
Medication for high blood pressure during pregnancy:
Some traditional blood pressure medications can cause problems in pregnant women should be avoided when you are pregnant:
-ace inhibitors
-renin inhibitors
-angiotensin receptor blockers
These drugs in particular will be passed through the bloodstream to the developing baby. They can negatively impact the baby’s health. These medications may also cause blood to thin, which can compromise the mother’s ability to carry the baby to term.
Methyldopa and labetalol are both drugs that have been deemed safe for use to manage blood pressure during pregnancy.
Talk to your doctor about how to control your blood pressure if you develop hypertension during pregnancy.
Summary:
High blood pressure during pregnancy doesn’t usually lead to serious problems. However, if it goes untreated, hypertension can become life-threatening for both mother and baby.
What are the functions of the kidney?
The kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from the blood. As kidneys fail, the waste accumulates in the body. The two most important enzymes, which kidney makes are erythropoietin & renin. Erythropoietin are made by the kidneys if there is less oxygen in the blood. It tells the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. So this means there will be more oxygen carried in the blood.
Renin is made by the kidney if there is low blood pressure, low volume of blood, or too low salts in the blood Renin make the blood vessels smaller and tells the adrenal gland to make aldosterone. It also makes a person feel thirsty and all of this makes the blood pressure go up. Since Kidney plays a very important role in the overall functioning of the body, it’s very important to take care of its health.
Let’s have a look on various kind of kidney disease including the one which are chronic:
Now what is Chronic Kidney Disease?
Chronic kidney disease include conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep healthy by doing the jobs listed, if it gets worse, wastes can build to high levels in the blood and make person sick.
Chronic kidney disease is caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders.
What causes chronic kidney disease?
The two main causes of chronic kidney disease are diabetes & high blood pressure which are responsible for up to two third of the cases. Other conditions that affect the kidney are:
1. A group of diseases that cause inflammation and damage to the kidney’s filtering unit.
2. Inherited disease such as poly cystic kidney disease.
3. Malformation that occur as a baby develop in mother’s womb.
4. Lupus and other disease that affect the body’s immune system.
5. Repeated urinary infections.
What are the symptoms of chronic kidney disease?
1. Feel more tired and have less energy
2. Have trouble concentrating
3. Poor appetite
4. Trouble sleeping
5. Muscle cramping at night
6. Swollen feet and ankles
7. Puffiness around the eyes especially in the morning
8. Dry itchy skin
9. Need to urinate more often, especially at night.
In case of the similar symptoms one needs to get it diagnosed and connect with the physician for good care and treatment. Stay Healthy!
Hypertension or high blood pressure can be defined as a condition wherein the thrust of the blood against the walls of the arteries is excessively high, thereby increasing chances of health hazards. The amount of blood that is pumped by the heart and the resistance put up by the arteries usually determine one’s blood pressure count. For instance, if the heart pumps excess amount of blood while the arteries shrink, the blood pressure can soar high. High blood pressure or hypertension may give rise to symptoms such as nosebleeds, short breaths or headaches.
Causes:
There are two types of hypertension, one is primary and the other is secondary. For essential or primary hypertension, there is no significant reason and the condition slowly develops over years. The secondary one appears all of a sudden as a result of a repressed condition such as thyroid or kidney problems, defective blood vessels and certain medications such as pain-killers, cold relievers, pills for birth control and others.
Other factors responsible for hypertension are:
Treatments:
Medications:
Lifestyle Changes:
Hypertension or high blood pressure can be defined as a condition wherein the thrust of the blood against the walls of the arteries is excessively high, thereby, increasing chances of health hazards. The amount of blood that is pumped by the heart and the resistance put up by the arteries usually determine one’s blood pressure count. For instance, if the heart pumps excess amount of blood while the arteries shrink, the blood pressure can soar high. High blood pressure or hypertension may give rise to symptoms such as nosebleeds, short breaths or headaches.
Causes
There are two types of hypertension, one is primary and the other is secondary. For essential or primary hypertension, there is no significant reason and the condition slowly develops over years. The secondary one appears all of a sudden as a result of a repressed condition such as thyroid or kidney problems, defective blood vessels and certain medications such as pain-killers, cold relievers, pills for birth control and others.
Other factors responsible for hypertension are:
Treatment
Medications:
Lifestyle changes:
Blood pressure is the thrust exerted by the blood against the artery walls or blood vessels. A certain count of blood pressure is necessary for blood circulation, but anything excessive may prove to be trouble. A reading above the count considered normal; 140/90 (mmHg) may induce symptoms, such as short breath, severe headaches, nosebleeds and anxiety.
Any sort of hypertension during pregnancy can take a toll on the baby.
1. Preeclampsia is a condition wherein, the blood pressure peeks high after 20 weeks of conception accompanied by traces of protein in urine and functional disorders in a few organs.
2. Hypertension might often result in the delivery of an underdeveloped (abnormally small size) baby.
3. High blood pressure might also give rise to a complication wherein, one might have to go for Caesarian section rather than a normal vaginal delivery.
4. The placenta detaches itself from the uterine wall much prior to the delivery.
5. Preeclampsia escalates one’s risks of suffering from heart disorders or other cardiovascular diseases.
6. It restricts the blood flow to the placenta (an organ nourishing the baby), thus cutting off adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus.
Signs and symptoms:
1. Excessive protein content in urine
2. Impaired liver functioning
3. Low urine levels
5. Intense pain and tenderness in the upper abdomen
6. Problems in eyesight such as double vision or temporary loss of vision, light sensitivity and blurriness.
7. Abnormal swelling
8. Persistent and a severe headache
Treatment:
Medications do meddle with pregnancy. However, certain medications are considered safe to be used for keeping blood pressure levels under control. These include Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) and Renin Inhibitors. However, do consult a doctor to get your dosage administered accurately. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a doctor and ask a free question.
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