Kidney is a vital organ without which life is not sustainable. People must know how to keep it healthy. According to the National Kidney Foundation, there are 26 million American adults who suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD) meaning kidney function less than 60% for the last three months. This number is expected to rise unless we become serious about prevention and learn about ways to keep our kidney healthy. Once serious renal failure sets in, they will either require dialysis or kidney transplant. No medication or diet can reverse their lost kidney function.
CKD is a major risk factor for heart attack therefore special attention must be paid to its risk factors. People who have Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol level and family history of kidney disease are at high risk of developing CKD. Secondary risks include obesity, autoimmune disease (glomerulonephritis), and systemic infection. By paying close attention to these risk factors, we can prevent long-term complications.
Kidneys are powerful chemical factories which remove waste product, balance body’s fluid, and remove drugs toxins from the body. It also releases hormones that control blood pressure; produces hormone that stimulate the production of red blood cells and promote healthy bones. Renal failure results in anaemia, weakening of bones, Vitamin D deficiency, and electrolyte abnormalities.
Ways to keep kidneys healthy are not any different than for the rest of the body. Some of them are regular exercise, controlling weight, avoidance of over the counter pain killers for example Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aleve, etc. Eating a healthy diet, annual checkups, avoidance of smoking and alcohol abuse are part of the solution.
One hallmark of kidney damage is protein in urine. Patients should be tested annually. Presence of protein in the urine adds another risk factor for heart attack.
One misgiving prevalent in our society is concept of “flushing the kidneys”. It means drinking large amounts of water to cure all kidney ills. This habit can become a serious problem in case of advance renal failure, valvular heart disease or coronary artery disease with heart failure. In these circumstances, it can cause congestive heart failure, electrolytes imbalance and admission to the hospital costing thousands of dollars.
Keeping kidneys healthy should be part of our daily routine. Having good control of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and low protein diet and medication to protect the kidneys are key to success. Some of preventive maintenance includes adjustment of dose of medications excreted by kidneys according to the level of the kidney failure, monitoring for anaemia, bone disease, malnutrition, electrolytes, and Vitamin D deficiency are very important. Close follow-up is required. Efforts on the part of both patients and physicians are required in order to keep the kidney healthy.
[Anis Ansari, MD is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, working at Medical Associate, Clinton, Iowa, U.S.A]