Kidney Health: How to Care for Your Kidney plus Characteristics of Normal and Abnormal Urine15/9/2023 Written By: Vivian BenjaminAs obesity and diabetes prevalence are on the rise, chronic kidney disease has surfaced to be a notable cause of death worldwide. Recent statistics show that 843 million people are affected by kidney disease. Kidney disease has been demonstrated to impact the female population more than the male population around the world. In addition to that, 5.6% of individuals aged between 20 and 39 years old are developing this illness. However, 44% of individuals with damaged kidneys are from the population aged more than 70 years of age. Nonetheless, it is crucial to create awareness for young people to better support their health. After all, prevention is always better than cure. An Overview of the Kidney The kidneys are bean–shaped organs, which come under the urinary system. The urinary system is the main excretory system of the human body. It contains 2 kidneys, 2 ureters, a urethra and a urinary bladder. The average adult kidney weighs around 113-170 grams, 10 to 12 cm long, 6 cm wide and 2.5 cm thick. The right kidney is slightly lower than the left kidney because of the location of the liver. The ureters are tubes that pass urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder. They are 25-30 cm long with 3mm as the diameter. The left ureter is shorter than the right. The urethra is a canal extending from the bladder to the urethral orifice. Usually, the urethra is longer in the male than in the female. The urinary bladder is a muscular, hollow sac that acts as a urine reservoir. The capacity of an adult bladder is 300 to 500 ml. The principal function of the kidney is to maintain homeostasis level by regulating fluids and electrolytes. Apart from that, the kidneys are also responsible for: a) Urine formation b) Excretion of waste products c) Regulation of acid-base balance d) Control of water balance e) Production and secretion of renin (an enzyme that is involved in the control of blood pressure f) Regulation of erythropoietin (a hormone that controls the formation of red blood cells) g) Secretion of prostaglandins h) Regulation of calcium and phosphorus levels i) Activation of growth hormone What are some common kidney diseases? There are numerous types of renal ailments but these are commonly developed by humans around the world. 1. Glomerulonephritis Glomerulonephritis are the inflammation of the glomerular capillaries. It is categorized as acute and chronic. Acute glomerulonephritis generally impacts children more than 2 years of age, although it can occur at any age. It is caused by bacterial or viral infections. On the other hand, chronic glomerulonephritis occurs after several episodes of acute glomerulonephritis, high blood pressure, or hyperlipidemia. 2. Nephrotic syndrome Nephrotic syndrome happens due to an increase in protein in the urine, oedema/swelling, high cholesterol and a decrease in albumin in the blood. 3. Renal failure When the kidney is unable to remove metabolic waste from the body, it becomes impaired, causing the kidney to fail. Renal failure can be acute and chronic. Acute renal failure develops due to 3 causes. Prerenal failure – volume depletions due to bleeding, vomiting, diarrhoea, heart failure, anaphylaxis, and septicaemia. Intrarenal failure – bacterial or viral infections, drugs such as antibiotics and NSAIDs, heavy metals (lead & mercury), severe burns. Postrenal failure – urinary tract obstructions including kidney stones, tumours, benign prostatic hyperplasia and blood clots. Chronic renal failure (end-stage renal disease) is a progressive deterioration of the kidney. Diabetes is the leading cause of ESRF followed by hypertension, vascular disease, infections (bacterial or viral), overuse of drugs and tumours. 4. Diabetic nephropathy Diabetic nephropathy is one of the complications of diabetes. Prolonged diabetes affects blood circulation thus; severely impacting kidney function and resulting in damage to the kidney. 5. Renal calculi Kidney stones or renal calculi are the formation of stones in the kidney. The primary reason is dehydration. Similarly, it also occurs due to increased excretion of calcium, oxalate, uric acid, phosphate and cystine, urinary tract infections, and certain medications. 6. Renal cancer Globally, renal cancer causes approximately 14,000 deaths every year. Although the exact cause of renal cancer is unknown, it is predominantly attributed to poor diet, obesity, hypertension, kidney failure, renal calculi and sickle cell disease. Supporting Your Kidney from the Inside and Outside 1. Nutrition Consuming balanced macronutrients and micronutrients is the key factor to support your kidney health. Be mindful of your salt intake in your daily diet. Instead of adding salt to your food, why not try incorporating herbs and spices as an alternative to salt? Processed food contains sodium therefore; avoid these kinds of food. High level of sodium/salt in the blood causes water retention in the body consequently; damaging the blood flow to the kidney. Sodium and potassium always go hand-in-hand hence; be mindful of the food that contains high levels of potassium. There is growing evidence suggesting that high protein intakes can damage the kidney, so be mindful of that dietary pattern. In addition to that, pay attention to your seafood consumption. Seafood contains high levels of purine and raises the chances of developing uric acid stones in the kidney. 2. Hydration Being fully hydrated helps your kidneys flush out toxins and sodium. Make it a practice to consume at least 2 litres of fluid every day. Clear fluid/water is the best fluid to be incorporated into your daily life nevertheless; many people dislike drinking water. If you are not a fan of water, you could always consume medicinal teas such as hibiscus tea, cardamom tea, chamomile tea and many more. These teas not only help keep your body hydrated but also come with numerous health benefits. 3. Control cholesterol and sugar level Obesity, hyperlipidemia and diabetes are risk factors for renal failure. High cholesterol and sugar levels increase the risk of vasoconstriction of the blood vessels thus; promoting the increase in blood pressure. Similarly, this damages the blood flow to the kidney subsequently; impacting the kidney. 4. Quit smoking Several studies show that smoking intensifies the level of protein in the blood hence; promoting kidney impairment. Apart from that, smoking induces vasoconstriction of the blood vessels, which damages the blood circulation. Not getting enough oxygen and nutrients will damage healthy cells in the kidney. 5. Physical activity Leading a sedentary lifestyle isn’t associated directly with renal disease. Nonetheless, being physically active does promote good health and well-being. Exercising promotes healthy blood circulation, which supplies oxygen and nutrients to maintain healthy cells. 6. Sleep When you go into deep sleep your body heals itself. So, getting a good rest is crucial in promoting healthy bodily functions. Practice having good sleep for at least 7-9 hours a day. 7. Healthy weight Obesity is associated with high blood pressure and diabetes. This directly influences the damage to the kidney. Several studies demonstrated that being obese increases oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, which damages cells in the kidney. 8. Avoid overuse of NSAIDs Evidence shows that overuse of NSAIDs facilitates acute kidney injury. Prolonged acute kidney injury results in end-stage renal failure. 9. Limit alcohol High consumption of alcohol disrupts the kidney’s ability to regulate fluid and electrolytes. Aside from that, alcohol also limits the kidney’s ability to filter blood eventually; damaging kidney function. 10. Manage stress positively
When you are stressed, cortisol is released into the blood circulation. Cortisol directly influences blood pressure levels. High blood pressure can injure the kidney. Therefore, managing stress positively is crucial. 11. Practice proper lower urinary tract hygiene Urinary tract infection is a common infection that affects anyone worldwide. It is the most common cause of post-renal failure, which causes kidney failure. Practising good hygiene of the lower urinary tract can prevent kidney damage. Characteristics of Normal and Abnormal Urine Micturition or voiding is generally painless and happens around eight times a day. A healthy individual usually voids between 1200 and 1800 ml every day (if the individual is fully hydrated). So, let’s explore what are the common issues relating to the voiding of urine.
The normal urine is pale yellow to a dark amber colour. Let’s explore what are some of the abnormal colour changes in urine and the causes behind them.
All in All As a result of poor diet and lifestyle factors kidney disease is on the rise every year. Although medical advancements such as pharmacological management, dialysis and kidney transplants provide treatment for damaged kidneys, some people may not have the ability to get treated promptly. Knowing how to nourish your kidney health is vital in supporting your general health and well-being. Furthermore, detecting early symptoms, for instance, changes in urine colour and composition may help in preventing chronic renal illnesses. I hope you can be inspired to start nurturing your kidney health. Share in the comments section below if you find these guidelines useful and inspiring. Alternatively, if you have different insights please do share. References 1. Kovesdy CP. (2022); Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease: an update 2022; Kidney International Supplements; 12(1):7-11. 2. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease- ckd/eating-nutrition 3. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease- ckd/prevention 4. Vallon V, Nakagawa T. (2021); Renal Tubular Handling of Glucose and Fructose in Health and Disease; Comprehensive Physiology; 12(1):2995-3044. 5. Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh et al (2020); High-protein diet is bad for kidney health: unleashing the taboo; Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation; 35(1):1–4.
2 Comments
Philo
16/9/2023 10:00:35 am
A very important and useful article to lead a healthy life with less medications. The author has explained very clearly how to take care of our health and others at home. By reading this article I am aware of so many things that I should follow to lead a healthy lifestyle. Thanks to the author. God bless.
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Vivian Benjamin
16/9/2023 07:57:02 pm
Thank you for your comments, Philo. My mission is to create awareness about holistic interventions. I'm glad to bring awareness to people regarding holistic approaches. I hope you have a lovely day. Take care.
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