The Importance of Keeping The Kidneys Healthy
The renal system has two bean-shaped organs called kidneys that aid the body in excreting waste through urine. Before returning blood to the heart, they aid in filtering it.
The kidneys carry out a variety of vital tasks, such as maintaining the body's general fluid balance, regulating and removing minerals from the blood, removing waste products from harmful substances, food, and drugs, producing hormones that promote bone health, controlling blood pressure, and aid in the production of red blood cells.
The kidneys are crucial for maintaining blood pressure control, red blood cell generation, bone health, and body fluid homeostasis. “It is remarkably possible to live a complete and healthy life with just one kidney, and this is one of the biggest significance of this organ,” shares Dr. Niren Rao, Kidney Doctor in Delhi, practicing at Dr. Niren Rao’s Urology Practice. Hence, maintaining its health is very much important.
The kidneys perform the essential task of filtering and reintroducing 200 quarts of fluid to the bloodstream once every 24 hours. About two quarts of urine are expelled from the body, and about 198 quarts are collected. The bladder has retained our discharged urine for one to eight hours.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) or chronic renal failure (CRF) is the term used to describe when the kidneys do not function as they should. CKD is a surprisingly widespread illness that is frequently linked to aging. According to the National Kidney Foundation, almost 2 million people are presently undergoing dialysis or a kidney transplant as treatment for CKD, which affects 10% of the world's population. Although CKD is a well-known independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, renal failure can seriously harm the heart, brain, retina, and liver.
Tips For Maintaining Kidney Health
The kidneys require conscious effort and strict self-care to remain healthy.
Food and way of life: Eat a balanced, healthy diet.
⚫ A minimal salt (not more than 5 gm per day) diet is recommended to keep control of blood pressure.
⚫ Avoid processed and refined foods, as well as too much sugar.
⚫ For those with early kidney disease, a low-protein diet is typically advised to prevent deterioration.
⚫ Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
Keep moving to maintain your weight and blood pressure.
Avoid smoking, and don't drink too much alcohol.
Only take recommended medications for underlying diseases. Regular use of painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications can affect your kidneys. Hence, one must avoid unnecessary intake of medications.
Get regular examinations and tests.
⚫ Understand your blood sugar level (blood sugar, HbA1c): If blood sugar is not strictly controlled in diabetics, kidney damage frequently occurs.
⚫ Blood and urine testing for kidney function is particularly important in high-risk individuals (those with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and a family history of renal disease).
⚫ Check your serum cholesterol levels and keep them low to prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease, which could harm your kidneys.
⚫ Schedule blood pressure regularly to help maintain control.
Importance of Healthy Kidneys
1. Eliminate waste and extra fluid.
The kidneys remove waste and extra fluid from the body, which functions as filters. Daily, the kidneys filter around 200 quarts of blood to produce 1 to 2 quarts of urine. Urine includes excess fluid and waste. This keeps the body healthy by preventing fluid and waste build-up.
2. Manage your blood pressure.
To function effectively, kidneys require pressure. By regulating fluid balance and producing the hormone that causes blood vessels to contract, the kidneys can request higher pressure if it appears too low or try to reduce pressure if it appears too high.
Renin is an enzyme made by the kidneys. Angiotensinogen generated in the liver is changed by renin into angiotensin I, which is then changed into angiotensin II in the lungs. Blood vessel constriction caused by angiotensin IIresults in an increase in blood pressure. Conversely, when a person's blood pressure is too high, their kidneys generate more urine to reduce the amount of fluid circulating throughout the body and at least partially offset the high blood pressure.
3. Make red blood cells.
The kidneys produce the hormone erythropoietin. Bone marrow is instructed to produce red blood cells by erythropoietin. Red blood cells transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and organs. An individual's red blood cells supply the energy required for daily tasks.
4. Maintain bone health.
Vitamin D is produced in an active form by the kidneys. To absorb calcium and phosphorus, a person needs vitamin D. Minerals like calcium and phosphorus are crucial for building healthy bones. Moreover, the kidneys maintain the proper ratio of calcium and phosphorus in the body.
5. Regulate pH levels.
Acidity and base are measured by pH. The molecules that regulate acid levels are in a healthy balance, thanks to the kidneys. Acids are produced by cells as they decompose. The amount of acid in a person's body can be raised or lowered by what they eat. The proper amounts of acid
and buffering substances are either removed from the body or adjusted by the kidneys to maintain pH equilibrium.
6. Balance minerals and chemicals.
The kidneys' regulation of minerals and substances, including sodium, potassium, hydrogen, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and bicarbonate, as well as maintaining a normal bodily fluid composition, is another crucial function of the kidneys.
Whilechanges in potassium levels canhavemajor negativeconsequences ontheheart'srhythm and howwell themuscles perform,changes in sodium levels canimpact aperson'smental state. For healthy bones and teeth, adequate calcium and phosphorus levels must be maintained.
Symptoms and Signs of Kidney Disease
If your kidney function keeps declining, one may develop kidney disease symptoms. As the kidneys fail and become incapable of removing wastes from the body, the majority of individuals will develop uremia. As kidney function declines, a variety of uremia symptoms manifest, such as:
⚫ Itching
⚫ Chest pain
⚫ Easy bruising
⚫ Weight reduction
⚫ Weakness
⚫ Vomiting
⚫ Loss of hunger
⚫ Breathlessness
⚫ Leg cramps
⚫ Swelling in ankles and legs
⚫ Fatigue
⚫ Nausea
⚫ Poor flavour in the mouth
⚫ Restless legs
⚫ Forgetfulness
⚫ Having trouble sleeping
⚫ Skin coloration varies
⚫ Reduced sexual drive.
Stress, intake of junk food, consumption of alcohol, and poor lifestyle can affect kidneys' health. Hence, caring for it is very important, shares Dr. Niren Rao, Urology Doctor in Delhi He is an expert urologist who treats all types of kidney issues, from stones, inflammation, infection, and cancer. If one is experiencing any of the symptoms and or kidney issues, one must consult an expert kidney doctor today. To know more, pay a visit today!
