How to Lower BUN Levels

Co-authored by Dan Hickey Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: June 6, 2024 Fact Checked

A blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test is used to determine the amount of urea nitrogen, or waste product, in your blood. ^{[1]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} High BUN levels can be a sign that your kidneys aren't functioning properly, or they could indicate a serious illness, injury, dehydration, or excessive protein intake. Check with your doctor to rule out serious issues. Make changes to your lifestyle to ensure regular BUN levels such as regulating your protein intake and exercise, staying hydrated, and reducing stress. BUN levels can be lowered by dealing with the health issues that raise them.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Ruling Out Serious Medical Issues

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Have your doctor check for serious illnesses. High BUN levels generally signify that your kidneys are not functioning properly. This could be due to kidney disease or failure, or other serious health problems like congestive heart failure, a recent heart attack, severe burns, stress, diabetes, or high blood pressure. Visit your doctor for a physical examination and additional laboratory tests to rule out any serious health problems. ^{[2]
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Research source}
- Your doctor will recommend the best course of treatment for any illnesses you may have, which will in turn help to lower your BUN levels.
- Thyroid problems and fever can also cause heightened BUN levels.
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Tell your doctor about any signs of gastrointestinal bleeding. Gastrointestinal bleeding can raise BUN levels, and it may be the result of a serious condition like gastric cancer or erosions. ^{[3]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Your doctor can perform an endoscopy to confirm the bleeding and treat the problem with medication or surgery. Tell your doctor if you have seen any possible signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, such as blood in your stool or vomit.
- Other symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding include abdominal cramps, weakness or feeling tired, dizziness or faintness, black or tarry stool, bright red blood in vomit, or dark or bright blood in stool. ^{[4]
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  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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See if your medication may be increasing your BUN levels. Some prescription drugs may raise your BUN levels as a side effect. Chloramphenicol and streptomycin, which are used to treat bacterial infections, are 2 notable examples. So are diuretics, which can cause dehydration and therefore a rise in BUN levels. Ask your doctor if any of your current or recent medications may have caused the increase. ^{[5]
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Mayo Clinic
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- Your doctor may change your medication or alter the dosage to help lower your BUN levels.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Changing Your Lifestyle

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Drink water and other fluids to stay hydrated. Dehydration is one of the most probable causes of high BUN levels, but is also the most preventable. ^{[6]
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University of Rochester Medical Center
Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
Go to source} Drink water and other fluids regularly throughout the day to stay hydrated. Sports drinks and coconut water are excellent beverage choices because their sugar content helps your body absorb and use water. ^{[7]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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- Try to drink about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men or 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women. ^{[8]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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Lower your protein intake. Excessive protein consumption can cause an elevated BUN level. ^{[9]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} This issue may arise if you take protein supplements for weight building or switch to a high-protein weight loss diet. Aim to consume no more than .8 grams (0.028 oz) of protein per 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of your body weight, per day. ^{[10]
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Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
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- Focus on adding more fiber, fruits, vegetables, grains, and healthy fats into your diet.
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Do not overtrain. Symptoms caused by excessive exercise include sleep difficulties, a lowered libido, persistent soreness, and mood changes. Overtraining can also cause elevated BUN levels, particularly if you are not eating enough food to compensate. ^{[11]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Reduce your training program if your recovery time after exercise lasts more than a day, or if you experience other unpleasant symptoms.
- The amount of time and type of exercise that it takes to reach a point of soreness or exhaustion varies from person to person.
Stress can be a big contributor to increased BUN levels since it raises your blood pressure, which puts additional strain on your kidneys. ^{[12]
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Research source} Try to reduce your stress levels by doing breathing exercises , practicing mindful meditation , and working out . If you are dealing with difficult psychological issues, consider talking to a counselor or therapist to conquer your stress. ^{[13]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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The best way to keep your BUN levels down is to work on being healthy in all areas of life. Eat a balanced diet, exercise moderately every day, and use meditation or yoga to stay calm and positive. ^{[14]
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Research source} It's also important that you visit your doctor for regular check-ups to ensure there aren't any health issues you need to address.