National Kidney Month

Many people may not realize the importance of the kidneys until they are exposed to health problems, although this organ performs very vital functions that make it one of the most important organs of the human body. The primary function of the kidneys is many of the substances in the blood and other body fluids must be kept at the correct level for the body to function properly. For example, sodium (salt) and potassium are minerals that come from food. The body needs these minerals for good health, but they must be kept at certain levels. When the kidneys are working properly, extra minerals, such as sodium and potassium, leave your body in the urine. The kidneys also help to adjust the levels of other minerals, such as calcium and phosphate (which are important for bone strength, growth, and other functions).

The human body has two kidneys, each located to the side of the spine to the bottom of the diaphragm and to the back of the abdominal cavity, and when comparing the kidneys, the right kidney is slightly larger in size, more clearly down compared to the left kidney, because the liver is up from the right kidney.

The kidney can only operate at 10% of its functional capacity without feeling any problems or symptoms, but it turns into a complex problem when developing kidney failure, which is a sudden failure of kidney function, where the kidneys cannot clear blood from toxins, and when these toxins accumulate at high levels, there is an imbalance in blood components.

Acute Kidney Failure Causes:

• Blood pressure medications.
• Heart failure.
• Ureteral obstruction.
• Enlarged prostate.

   

  Signs and symptoms of acute kidney failure may include:

• Being tired all the time.
• Shortness of breath.
• Feeling weak or dizzy.
• Feeling of intense itching.
• Swelling in the hands, feet or face.
• Feeling a strange taste in the mouth that resembles the taste of metal.
• Stomach troubles, feeling sick or vomiting, loss of appetite.
• Bubbles with urine: due to the presence of protein in the urine.
• The urine color be dark.

   

  How do we treat it?

• Make a healthy lifestyle a priority.
• Obligation to take medicines properly.
• Hemodialysis.
• Kidney transplantation.

   

  Must know about it:

• Sudden kidney pain is not a sign of lack of water or kidney inflammation, because most of these symptoms are the result of muscular causes
• The kidney donor must drink a lot of water, to maintain the good health of the transplanted kidney.
• Kidney failure patients refrain from eating foods that contain high potassium.
• It is recommended to drink two to three liters of water per day, and to monitor the amount of urine
• Rapid weight gain, and swollen legs are evidence of fluid retention.

How do you keep your kidneys healthy?

• Make a balanced diet by increasing vegetables and fruits and reducing salt and sugars.

• Drink at least 6 glasses of water per day.

• Do daily exercise for half an hour at least.

• Avoid take excessive amounts of painkillers and vitamins.

• Don’t take herbs without consulting a doctor.

• Avoid smoking, and don’t drink alcohol.

• Continuous examination of kidney function.