BUN stands for Blood Urea Nitrogen, which is a waste product that your body makes after it breaks down protein. A BUN test measures the amount of urea nitrogen in your blood, and it can provide important information about your kidney function. The main job of your kidneys is to remove waste and extra fluid from your body, and if you have kidney disease, this waste material can build up in your blood. A BUN test can help uncover kidney problems at an early stage when treatment can be more effective.

During the BUN test, a member of your health care team takes a sample of blood by inserting a needle into a vein in your arm. The blood sample is sent to a lab for analysis, and the results are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) in the United States and in millimoles per liter (mmol/L) internationally. In general, around 7 to 20 mg/dL (2.5 to 7.1 mmol/L) is considered normal. However, normal ranges may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, and other factors.

A BUN test can reveal whether your urea nitrogen levels are higher than normal, suggesting that your kidneys may not be working properly. Higher than normal BUN levels may be a sign that your kidneys arent working well. However, several things can affect your BUN test results, so having a BUN level that is lower or higher than the normal range doesn’t always mean there is a problem. Things that affect your BUN level might include a high-protein diet, low-protein diet, certain medications, aging, dehydration, burns, blockage in your urinary system, stress, heart attack, gastrointestinal bleeding, and more.

In summary, BUN is a waste product that your body makes ...