The human kidneys:
The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs on either side of your spine, below your ribs and behind your belly. Each kidney is about 4 or 5 inches long, roughly the size of a large fist.
Functions of the kidneys:
The kidneys’ job is to filter your blood. They remove wastes, control the body’s fluid balance, and keep the right levels of electrolytes. All of the blood in your body passes through them about 40 times a day.
Blood comes into the kidney, waste gets removed, and salt, water, and minerals are adjusted, if needed. The filtered blood goes back into the body. Waste gets turned into urine, which collects in the kidney’s pelvis — a funnel-shaped structure that drains down a tube called the ureter to the bladder.
Each kidney has around a million tiny filters called nephrons. You could have only 10% of your kidneys working, and you may not notice any symptoms or problems.
If blood stops flowing into a kidney, part or all of it could die. That can lead to kidney failure. Source: WebMed (Aug. 2021)
Kidney health:
A decline in the kidney organ’s capacity to filter blood and remove waste products from the body is a primary contributor to the development of kidney disease. Kidney disease can be identified by a number of different physical symptoms; however, these symptoms are commonly misunderstood as being caused by other diseases.
According to the MayoClinic, kidney illness can be diagnosed based on a number of symptoms that manifest themselves inside the body. Some of these symptoms include those listed below.
1. Changes in the frequency of your urination.
It is important to monitor how much urine you are producing at all times. It is possible, for instance, that your urine flow could drop, or that you’ll feel the urge to urinate more frequently, particularly throughout the night.
It may be an indication that the organs responsible for renal filtration are ill or on the point of failing. In males, this symptom may occasionally point to the presence of a urinary tract infection or an enlarged prostate.
As a consequence of this, your neurologist should be informed of any change, whether it be an increase or a decrease in the amount of urine you pass.
2. Foamy urine or blood in the urine.
Foamy pee is an indicator of the presence of protein in the urine, which under normal circumstances may be ignored. When the filtering function of the kidney is weakened, protein and blood cells will start to leak out into the urine.
3. Anemia.
Hemoglobin levels begin to fluctuate, and a person may seem pale in the absence of any visible site of blood loss from the body. This is a common complication that can arise from kidney disease. This might also result in feelings of tiredness and weakness. Anemia can be caused by a number of factors, including low levels of the hormone erythropoietin, low iron levels, and a buildup of toxins that suppresses bone marrow.
4. Skin that is itchy and dry.
If your skin is dry and itchy, you may have a serious condition involving your kidneys. Toxic substances begin to build up in the body when renal function begins to decline. This causes the skin to become itchy, dry, and offensively odorous.
5. Swelling in the lower extremities, specifically the legs and feet
Salt retention can be caused by impaired renal function, which in turn can lead to edema in the lower extremities (feet and ankles). Swelling in the lower extremities, particularly the legs and feet, can be a symptom of a number of different conditions, including heart disease, liver disease, or chronic leg vein problems.
6. A feeling of difficulty in breathing
Acute renal failure can lead to an accumulation of fluid in your lungs, which can make it difficult for you to breathe normally
Self care for great kidneys:
- Here are some tips to help keep your kidneys healthy:
- Keep active and fit. …
- Control your blood sugar. …
- Monitor blood pressure. …
- Monitor weight and eat a healthy diet. …
- Drink plenty of fluids. …
- Don’t smoke. …
- Be aware of the amount of OTC pills you take. …
- Have your kidney function tested if you’re at high risk.
Source: Healthline