Unless something goes wrong, people rarely think about their kidneys. You can’t see or feel your kidneys, and as the saying goes, “out of sight out of mind.” But what most people don’t realize is that their kidneys are crucially important to their health. In fact, if your kidneys fail, other important organs, such as your heart, liver, and bones, could be damaged as well. That’s why it is so important to be educated about your kidneys and to do what you can to keep them healthy.
Why Kidneys Are Important
Most people are born with two kidneys, which are located mid-abdomen towards the back. The kidneys clear toxins and excess fluid from the body by producing urine. Blood is also filtered through the blood vessels of the kidneys. In addition, the kidneys produce hormones and regulate vitamins and minerals in the body, and even help produce red blood cells. Through these processes, the kidneys help regulate your blood pressure, heart function, liver function, and keep your bones healthy.
A person can suffer from acute or chronic kidney problems. Examples of acute kidney disease include infections or kidney stones. Medications and dehydration can also affect kidney function. Diseases that can damage the kidneys and lead to chronic kidney failure include high blood pressure, diabetes, and genetic or inherited disorders such as polycystic disease. More than 15 million U.S. adults have chronic kidney disease.
What You Can Do
Here are some tips for staying on top of your kidney health:
- See your doctor regularly. Your physician will take a health history, conduct a physical exam, and order laboratory tests. All of these actions will enable your doctor to determine if you are in good health. It is also important, if possible, to know your family health history and whether or not any family member had kidney disease. A family history of kidney disease will prompt your doctor to monitor you more carefully for that specific condition.
- Laboratory tests. Laboratory tests to check for kidney health may include an analysis of your urine, known as a urinalysis. This test looks for abnormalities in your urine, such as red or white blood cells, excess protein, or glucose. Such findings might signal infection, kidney stones, or a more serious condition such as cancer or diabetes. Your doctor might also order blood tests that look for creatinine and blood urea nitrogen which can be indicators of kidney function. If these tests come back as abnormal, your doctor might order other tests, such as an x-ray or a 24-hour urine collection.
- Have your sugar (or glucose) levels checked. Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure. So it is very important to know whether or not your glucose levels are normal, and to get treated if you have diabetes.
- Have your blood pressure checked. High blood pressure, left untreated, is one of the most common causes of kidney disease. When your blood pressure remains high, it damages the blood vessels in the body including the vessels of the kidneys.
- Signs of kidney dysfunction. High blood pressure, blood in your urine, frequent or painful urination, or signs of water retention are signs that something might be wrong with your kidneys. Alert your doctor right away if you notice any of these symptoms.
- Eat a healthy diet. Diets that are high in saturated fat can contribute to clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), including kidney arteries. Cholesterol deposits can also block the kidney arteries. That’s why it is important to eat a balanced diet. Remember that a “heart-healthy” diet that is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium is also a “kidney-healthy” diet.
- Get plenty of exercise. Exercise on most days of the week to reduce the incidence of obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and other chronic disease is important for kidney health.
The most important thing is to see a doctor for a check up on a regular basis. You might not know that something is wrong with your kidneys unless you have a complete physical exam by a doctor. Remember: “Out of sight out of mind.” Do your kidneys a favor and get a check-up! |
