World Kidney Day 2022: Here’s how you can protect your kidneys from being damaged

The kidneys are two organs which can be situated within the decrease again, one on both sides of the backbone. They’re in regards to the dimension of a clenched fist. The Nephron is the purposeful unit of the kidney and incorporates a specialised construction known as the glomerulus inside which filtration of blood happens. There are about one million nephrons in a kidney. The kidneys have quite a few capabilities which can be very important to your well-being. Their foremost capabilities and an outline of every are listed under.

Capabilities of the kidney

Take away further water: The kidneys filter further water, which the physique doesn’t want, within the type of urine. This water comes from the liquids you drink and the meals you eat. The kidneys have the flexibility to pay attention or dilute your urine, as your physique wants. As they type urine, it’s despatched to the bladder by tubes known as ureters. The urethra is the tube that drains the urine from the bladder to the surface of the physique.

Take away waste merchandise: Urea and creatinine are examples of waste merchandise which can be present in everybody. Urea and creatinine type because the physique breaks down meals into vitality and performs its routine bodily capabilities. Waste merchandise are dangerous if not eliminated by the kidneys. A build-up of those toxins within the physique attributable to kidney failure may be deadly.

Restore wanted chemical substances: The kidneys work to maintain the physique’s chemical substances (electrolytes and minerals) in steadiness. Two examples of electrolytes are sodium and potassium. An instance of a mineral could be calcium. The kidneys maintain a correct steadiness by saving the chemical substances the physique wants and passing the surplus chemical substances into the urine.

Regulate blood strain: The kidneys assist the physique maintain a traditional blood strain by regulating the excretion of sodium and water. The kidneys additionally produce a particular hormone known as renin that helps to manage blood strain. 

Assist in the manufacturing of pink blood cells:- The wholesome kidney produces a hormone known as erythropoietin. This hormone helps the bone marrow produce pink blood cells.

Assist with calcium and vitamin steadiness: The kidneys steadiness calcium, phosphate and Vitamin D within the physique. These three play a key function in bone construction and formation. 

Advisories for having wholesome Kidneys

1. Common train diminishes the chance of continual kidney illness. It could additionally scale back hypertension whereas boosting coronary heart well being, that are each necessary to stopping kidney injury. One needn’t run marathons to realize the reward of train. Strolling, operating, biking, and even dancing is nice for one’s well being. 

2. Diabetes Mellitus: That is quick turning into the most typical reason behind continual kidney failure in India and everywhere in the world. Diabetes causes blood vessel modifications within the kidneys (and the entire physique) over a few years. A thickening and hardening of kidney arteries, glomeruli and tubules trigger the kidneys to fail. Nonetheless, if one can management their blood sugar, the chance of injury could possibly be lowered. Additionally, if the injury is detected early, the physician can take steps to cut back additional injury. A easy Blood check (serum creatinine) and Urine check (for protein) will decide whether or not your kidneys are functioning usually. 

3. Hypertension may cause kidney injury. If hypertension happens along with different well being points like diabetes, coronary heart illness, or excessive ldl cholesterol, the well being affect may be important. A wholesome blood strain studying is 120/80 mm of Hg. Way of life and dietary modifications might assist decrease one’s blood strain. If the blood strain readings are persistently excessive, a prognosis of hypertension is made. Therefore, it’s extremely really useful for such folks to seek the advice of a health care provider about monitoring blood strain commonly whereas making modifications to their every day way of life.

4. Overweight persons are at the next danger of a number of well being problems which can be dangerous to the kidneys. These embrace diabetes, coronary heart illness, and hypertension. A nutritious diet might assist scale back the chance of kidney injury. Focussing on consuming contemporary substances (which can be naturally low-sodium, akin to cauliflower, blueberries, fish, entire grains, and extra) reasonably than canned meals and lowering carbohydrate consumption, can go a great distance in lowering or stopping the incidence of those ailments.

5. There’s no miracle behind the golden recommendation to drink eight glasses of water a day, however it’s a perfect routine because it encourages you to remain hydrated. That is very true for tropical climate with its scorching summers and for these toiling underneath the solar. One ought to purpose for a minimum of 1.5 to 2 litres in a day. Different components like local weather, train, gender, general well being, and whether or not or not you’re pregnant or breastfeeding are necessary to contemplate when planning your every day water consumption. Individuals who have beforehand had kidney stones ought to drink a minimum of 3L of water a day to assist stop stone deposits sooner or later.

6. Smoking damages the physique’s blood vessels. This results in slower blood circulation all through the physique and to your kidneys as effectively. Smoking additionally places your kidneys at an elevated danger for most cancers. If you happen to give up smoking, your danger will scale back. Nonetheless, it’s going to take a while to return to the chance stage of an individual who’s by no means smoked.

(The creator is Dr Arvind Conjeevaram, Senior Marketing consultant Nephrologist and Transplant Doctor, The Bangalore, Sagar & Trustwell Hospitals, Bangalore)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this article are these of the creator. They don’t replicate the views of India TV)