Kidneys are considered "vital organs," meaning they perform functions essential to your health. They keep your blood clean and also release important hormones.
An adult kidney is about the same size as your fist. Each is shaped like a kidney bean. Most people are born with two kidneys located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. Some people are born with only one kidney; others have donated a kidney for transplantation. You can live a healthy, normal life with only one kidney.
Filtration System
 Your kidneys purify your blood. Every day, your kidneys process around 200 quarts of blood. They filter out about two quarts of waste products and excess water and send it to your bladder through tubes called ureters. The filtered-out waste and water are called urine. The reprocessed blood is returned to your blood system.
Where does the waste come from? It is the result of normal body function. Tissues and cells continually break down and need repair or replacement. Your body uses the food you eat for cell repair and for energy. Any leftovers are sent to the blood system to be filtered out by your kidneys.
If your kidneys don't remove the wastes, they build up and "pollute" your body.
Hormone Contribution
As important as the filtration function is, your kidneys have another purpose. They release three important hormones:
- Erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells
- Renin, which regulates blood pressure
- The active form of vitamin D, which helps maintain calcium for bones and for normal chemical balance in the body
Keep Kidneys Healthy
If both kidneys are functioning optimally, you have 100 percent "renal function." But that's more than you need. Reduced renal function isn't necessarily a cause for concern. You can get along fine with only 50 percent renal function, as long as it remains stable.
The most common causes of kidney malfunction are diabetes and high blood pressure. Preventing or controlling these conditions greatly reduces your risk of kidney problems.
Poisoning can cause kidney damage. According to the National Institutes of Health, over-the-counter medicines that combine aspirin, acetaminophen, and other medicines such as ibuprofen have been found to be the most dangerous to the kidneys. Check with your doctor if you take any painkillers on a daily basis.
A direct, forceful blow to your kidneys can lead to kidney disease.
Some kidney diseases are hereditary. If your family has a history of any kind of kidney problems, mention them to your health care provider. You might be at risk.
Signs and Symptoms
Many people with reduced kidney function have a disease that slowly damages the filtering capacity. It might take decades for you to realize there's a problem. In the early stages of kidney disease, you might not feel any different. Some people feel tired or itchy all over their body. Some have frequent headaches.
As the disease progresses, you might notice you're urinating more or less frequently. You might feel nauseous or lose your appetite. Some people experience numbness or swelling in the hands or feet. Others have muscle cramps. You might feel drowsy or have a difficult time concentrating. Your skin might darken.
Your health care provider will order blood and urine tests, and will base your treatment on the results. If you are in the early stages, you might be able to make your kidneys last longer by making lifestyle changes.
There is no cure for kidney disease. Its progression can be slowed, but not reversed. |
