Kidneys are one of the most important organs of our body. It helps in filtering the waste materials from the blood, balancing the electrolytes and controlling blood pressure. When kidneys fail to remove the waste materials from our body, it starts building up in our blood and starts affecting different organs of our body. So basically, the wellbeing of our kidneys is not only about the wellbeing of our kidneys, but the wellbeing of our whole body. In this blog, we will focus & inform you why kidney health is crucial for your overall wellness. So that, you remain aware and can take good care of your kidneys. Connect with Neotia Getwel Multispecialty Hospital for the best medical assistance & 24*7 emergency care.

1. What is the role of the kidney in our body?

The kidney is the filter of our body. It removes waste materials from blood and produces fresh blood for the body. Each minute about one litre of blood i.e. one-fifth of all the blood pumped by the heart- enters the kidneys through the renal arteries. This blood enter our kidneys through the renal arteries, gets cleaned and gets back to the body through the renal veins.

We have two kidneys and each kidney has almost one million tiny units called nephrons. In this nephron, there is a very small filter named glomerulus, and it is attached to a tubule. Blood passes through this nephron. Nephron helps in filtering the waste materials and returning the needed substances back to our body.

After the filtration, the urine gets stored in the bladder and gets out of the body timely. The kidney usually makes one to two litres of urine every day. However, it depends on the fluid intake, exercise and body type as well.

It is important to mention that, this is just the main function of the kidneys. It also controls blood pressure by red blood cell production and calcium uptake from the intestine and maintains body fluid at the correct levels for the body to function. Apart from this, kidneys control body chemistry by regulating the amount of salt, water and other chemicals moving around the body.

2. What are the common kidney-related issues?

a. Chronic kidney disease (CKD): Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the most common kidney-related issue. In this condition, the kidneys fail to remove the waste and excess fluid from the body. It starts building up in the body and can lead to heart attack & even stroke.

b. Acute kidney injury (AKI): Acute kidney injury (AKI) can occur due to a sudden accident or a high level of potassium in the body. It also leads to a build-up of fluid in the body, arms, legs etc. and can lead to muscle weakness, paralysis and heart rhythm problems.

c. Kidney stones: Kidney stones are also known as renal stones. It occurs when a significant amount of minerals or salts form inside the kidneys. It blocks the way of urine and causes severe pain.

d. Kidney infections: Kidney infections are bacterial infections. It occurs in any part of the urinary tract such as the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, or urethra. It can cause a burning sensation, frequent urination, discomfort in the lower abdomen etc.

e. Kidney cysts: Kidney cysts are the fluid-filled sacs or pouches or cysts. It also can cause pain, frequent urination, blood in the urine etc.

f. Kidney cancer: Kidney cancer occurs when the cells of the kidneys start growing extremely. It can cause blood in the urine, extreme, pain, sudden weight loss etc.

3. What are the symptoms?

Well, everyone has different kinds of symptoms. However, there are some common symptoms such as

• Frequent headaches
• Fatigue
• Itchiness all over the body
• Blood in the urine
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Puffiness around the eyes, swelling of hands and feet
• Darkened skin
• Muscle cramps or pain in a small area of the back just below the ribs that is not aggravated by movement
• High blood pressure
• Increased or decreased urination

4. How do the kidney-related issues impact our overall health?

Kidneys do not only remove the waste materials from our bodies. It keeps us healthy & fit. So, any kind of dysfunction of the kidneys can lead to many other health issues such as

• When kidneys fail or start malfunctioning, the excess fluid & waste materials start building up in our body. It leads to water retention in our bodies. The fluids start building up in different parts of the body such as arms, legs etc and they start swelling. It also leads to fluid build-up in our lungs (pulmonary edema).
• Kidney failure or dysfunction leads to a sudden rise of potassium in the body (hyperkalemia). It impacts the heat function & can be fatal too.
• Anemia
• Heart issues
• Weaker bones
• Decreased sexual urge & fertility
• Low immunity power
• It damages the whole nervous system
• Pericarditis is an inflammation of the sac like membrane that envelops your heart (pericardium)

5. How to maintain the kidney health?

Here are some tips to maintain a healthy kidney which can save your life.

• Regular check-ups. Regular health checkups help with early detection. Many times, some kind of medication also can lead to kidney-related issues. Regular health checkups also help in finding that in the first place.
• Quit smoking
• Quit alcohol
• Regular exercise
• Monitor your blood pressure level. Take medicines if you have high blood pressure and follow the instructions strictly.
• Do not consume painkillers frequently. It directly damages your kidneys.
• Cholesterol has a direct impact on your kidneys. So, it is monitored regularly and if you have issues with high cholesterol follow the instructions & take medicines religiously.
• Obesity can damage kidney health. Have a check on your body weight.
• Keep your body hydrated. Chronic dehydration, results in the production of urine which has a higher concentration of minerals and waste products. This can lead to the formation of crystals which can affect kidney function and contribute to certain kidney diseases, such as kidney stones.
• Get your sleep. The human body needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep. A good amount of sleep helps in keeping your kidneys healthy.

Final words: Kidneys play an important role in keeping us healthy & fit. Take good care of it. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Do not forget to have your regular health check-ups. Regular health check-ups help in diagnosing any issue at the first stage & help in faster recovery. Connect with Neotia Getwel Multispecialty Hospital for your health check-ups & best medical assistance.

Disclaimer

Though all attempts are made to provide correct information on the subject, inadvertent & typographical errors arising out of manual intervention cannot be ruled out. It is requested to bring any such discrepancies to the notice of the blogger for correction.