Your kidneys are extremely important, so it’s crucial that you learn as much information on them as you can. Your body is yours to live with and take care of, so knowing how it operates helps you stay on track to living a healthy life. With your kidneys, think of them as a filter. Your kidneys filter all the toxins that come or form in your body and remove the toxins through urination or bowel movements. As important as your kidneys are, they, just like any other part of your body, can be subjected to failure and disease if you aren’t being mindful of how you’re treating them. Yes, some things are inevitable when it comes to sickness and disease but you can also contribute to your body experiencing sickness as well. Let’s learn more.
You’ve probably heard of this medical condition before, but what do you really know about kidney disease? Do you know what it is? Chronic kidney disease, also known as kidney failure is when your kidney(s) no longer functions properly. What this means is that the kidney(s) no longer filter waste and extra fluid from your blood.
Your body now has excess waste and fluid in the bloodstream. Kidney failure can lead to complications all over your body. It can lead to weak bones and an increased risk of fractures, anemia, hyperkalemia (extreme increase in potassium in your blood), decrease in sex drive, damage to your nervous system, and more.
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Since kidney disease or kidney failure means that your kidneys are at the point where they no longer function properly, it’s safe to say that something could have possibly caused this right? Well, that is correct.
Unfortunately, kidney failure can be caused by many things. You can inherit kidney disease or develop polycystic kidney disease and it causes your kidneys to fail. Having recurrent kidney infections can also cause kidney disease.
Besides having problems specifically with your kidneys, there are other things that can cause your kidneys to fail.
In fact, most of the time your kidneys fail due to other medical conditions. When your body is fighting an illness or disease already, it makes it more susceptible to failure in other parts of the body. This is what usually happens with your kidneys.
There are many medical conditions that can cause damage to your kidneys or worsen them over time, one example is high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, it can change and damage the blood vessels in your kidneys.
Once this happens, your kidneys may not work as well as they need to when it comes to removing fluid and waste.
Another condition that can cause kidney failure is diabetes. Diabetes occurs when there is too much glucose in your blood. Too much sugar in your bloodstream damages your kidneys’ filters.
Inflammation of the kidneys filtering system (glomerulonephritis), when urine backs up into the kidneys (vesicoureteral reflux), lupus (lupus nephritis), genetic disorders, and Alport syndrome are all medical conditions that can also cause kidney failure over time.
RELATED: 5 Ways to Catch Kidney Disease Early
In most cases, kidney failure is preventable, as long as you are monitoring your health with or without some type of medical condition, you can lower your risk of developing kidney disease.
Maintaining a healthy weight is a key factor in preventing kidney failure and this comes with diet and exercise. Make sure you stay as active as possible and eat responsibly. Cut out processed and fatty foods, lower your sugar intake and make healthy substitutions in all the areas that you can when it comes to food.
If you’re a smoker, try your hardest to quit and find an alternative. Make sure you manage your medical conditions properly with your doctor’s guidance.
Take over-the-counter medicine as the directions on the back say and do not take them for too long.
It’s important to know your body and the things that can happen to it, even if you are doing everything right so make sure to be mindful of your health.
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