Protecting your Kidney

Learn to protect your kidneys .

The kidneys are tucked somewhere in the body, where they perform functions that guarantee our staying healthy and fit.

Essentially, the kidneys extract waste from blood, form urine, and aid in other important functions of the body such as balancing the water level, regulating the blood pressure, regulating the red blood cell, as well as regulating the acid levels in the body.

While the average individual is born with two kidneys, the truth is that you can live on just one, hence the possibility of donating a kidney to a needy person.

Physicians warn that because of the vital functions the kidneys perform and the toxins they encounter as they discharge their duties on a daily basis, the kidneys are susceptible to various problems.

As scary as it is, experts say it is possible for an individual to lose as much as 90 per cent of his/her kidney functions without experiencing any symptoms or problems!

Senior Consultant Nephrologist, Dr. Devendra Agarwal, says the kidneys can lose their ability to function properly when certain conditions are present in the body. Such dangerous conditions can result in acute kidney failure and may necessitate medical procedures to treat this all-important organ.

He warns that in case the damage to the kidneys is enormous, the individual concerned may have to undergo kidney transplant – an expensive venture, both in terms of money and lifestyle changes.

This being the case, what are the things that can damage the kidneys and how to avoid them. It is said that urinary tract infection that is usually caused by the E. coli bacteria may spread from the bladder or the urethra to one of the kidneys, infecting it in the process.

He explains, “Bacteria enter the body from the skin around the urethra. They then travel up the urethra to the bladder. Sometimes, bacteria escape the bladder and urethra, traveling up the ureters to one or both kidneys. Medically called pyelonephritis, it is a potentially serious kidney infection that can spread to the blood, causing severe illness.

Its symptoms include painful, urgent, or frequent urination, back pain, fever or chills, feeling sick, nausea and vomiting, confusion (especially in the elderly), blood in the urine and cloudy or foul-smelling urine.

“What all these translate into is that when you notice more than one of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to see your doctor without delay,” Akinduyile counsels.

Sepsis

Beyond the urinary tract infection, physicians say, a person’s immune system may be overwhelmed by infection and result in inflammation and consequent shutdown of the kidneys.

According to sepsisalliance.org, there are two ways the kidneys could be affected by sepsis. The first is if the infection that caused the sepsis begins in the kidney, through a kidney infection or a bladder infection that has spread to the kidney. The second is if the cascade of events from sepsis causes the kidney damage.

The portal adds, “In sepsis and septic shock, your blood pressure drops dangerously low, affecting how the blood flows through your body. The low blood pressure and blood clot within the blood vessels contribute to the kidneys’ failure.”

Kidney stones

Akinduyile says while many things might cause this condition, several factors may increase an individual’s risk for the health trouble.

He says, “Kidney stones form when your urine contains more crystal-forming substances such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid than the fluid in your urine can dilute.”

He warns that dietary factors such as too much salt in your food, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery and several metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine, causing kidney stones.

And if you’re the type that doesn’t drink enough water, be warned that people who don’t drink enough fluids or who lose too much fluid can develop this painful, life-threatening condition.

“The same risk goes for those who eat a high-protein diet, those who are obese, and those who have gout; while certain diseases and genetic factors may also increase your risk,” the physician says.

Medications

Of course, if you need medicines for whatever reasons, your physician will prescribe them for you. But then, Akinduyile warns that though they are helpful, medicines are not completely risk-free, and that’s why they should be used carefully.

Indeed, experts say long-term exposure to some medications and chemicals may cause kidney damage or failure, either directly or indirectly from dangerous increases in body temperature and muscle breakdown. Such drugs include antibiotics, blood pressure medicines, medicines used for cancer treatment, HIV/AIDS drugs, and certain ulcer medications.

Others are illegal drugs, such as heroin and methamphetamine; as well as inhalants such as solvents and aerosol.

They also warn that exposure to chemicals such as insecticides, herbicides, and ethylene glycol, can also cause acute kidney injury.

While you may not do without medicine if you need one, you must learn to be safe with medicines by reading and following all instructions on the label.

Again, ensure that your doctor knows about the medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements you take. And when it comes to taking medications without doctor’s prescription – including the over-the-counter drugs – be especially careful.

Finally, if you’re using over-the-counter pain relievers, don’t take them for more than 10 days for pain or more than three days for fever. Rather, the physician says, if you have pain or fever for a longer time, you should see your doctor

People are also warned to avoid prolonged use of analgesics that contain a mixture of painkilling ingredients such as aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine mixtures in one pill.

And if you are taking analgesics, increase the amount of fluid you drink to six to eight glasses a day; while you must avoid drinking alcohol totally.


culled.