Prevention of Kidney Dysfunction

Kidney dysfunction (Chronic kidney disease, also called chronic kidney failure) describes the gradual loss of kidney function. Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then excreted in your urine. When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes can build up in your body.

In the early stages of Kidney dysfunction (Chronic kidney disease), you may have few signs or symptoms. Chronic kidney disease may not become apparent until your kidney function is significantly impaired.

SYMPTOMS

When you know the symptoms of chronic kidney disease (CKD), you can get treatment and feel your best. CKD symptoms can have variation from person to person, Some people don’t have any symptoms or don’t think they do. If you have one or more of the 15 symptoms below, or worry about kidney problems, see a doctor for blood and urine tests.

1. Fatigue – being tired all of the time

2. Feeling cold – when others are warm

3. Shortness of breath – after very little effort

4. Feeling faint, dizzy, or weak

5. Trouble thinking clearly

6. Feeling very itchy

7. Swelling in hands or feet

8. Swollen or puffy face

9. Food tastes like metal

10. Ammonia breath

11. Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting

12. Getting up during the night to make urine

13. Foamy or bubbly urine

14. Brown, red, or purple urine

15. Pressure when you make urine

For detailed explanations about these 15 symptoms CLICK HERE

Treatment for chronic kidney disease focuses on slowing the progression of the kidney damage, usually by controlling the underlying cause. Chronic kidney disease can progress to end-stage kidney failure, which is fatal without artificial filtering (dialysis) or a kidney transplant.

PREVENTION

The following are the important tips to get rid of Kidney dysfunction

1. Avoid Urination delay

Most people tend to delay their urination for sometimes when they are busy on doing something, It is common behaviour for most people. When you delay your urination, the filtered wastes and excess fluids from your blood turn back to the kidneys and infect them. Progressive infection of the kidneys results to Kidney dysfunction, so you need to avoid delayed urination, by the moment you feel urination go and urinate, don't waste time. The more you delay your urination the more your kidneys get infected.

2. Avoid Excess Salt intake

Your body removes unwanted fluid by filtering your blood through your kidney, via osmosis, to draw excess water out of your blood. This requires a balance of sodium and potassium to pull the water across the wall from the bloodstream into a collecting channel in the kidney. A high salt diet will alter this sodium balance, causing the kidneys to have reduced function and remove less water resulting in higher blood pressure. This puts strain on the kidneys and can lead to kidney disease.

A high salt intake has been shown to increase the amount of protein in the urine which is a major risk factor for the decline of kidney function. There is also increasing evidence that a high salt intake may increase deterioration of kidney disease in people already suffering from kidney problems.

Also high salt intake may result to Kidney (Renal) Stones, Renal stones are relatively common. Over a lifetime, 6% of women and 11% of men will have renal stones at least once. Although common, renal stones are painful and can cause nausea, difficulty passing urine and may progress to kidney disease if there is a blockage.

As well as being a risk factor for kidney disease, a high salt diet has been associated with renal stones. Urinary calcium, the main constituent of renal stones, is increased by a high salt diet and this increases the risk of stones forming.  A number of studies have successfully shown that a reduction in salt consumption can reduce calcium excretion, and reduce reoccurrence of renal stones. 

NB:

It is advisable to take not more than 5.8 grams of salt per day.

3. Avoid Excess Meat Intake

Red meat is an important dietary source of high biological value protein and micronutrients such as vitamins, iron, and zinc that exert many beneficial functions. However, high consumption of animal protein sources, especially red meat, results in an increased intake of saturated fat, cholesterol, iron, and salt, as well as an excessive acid load. Red meat intake may lead to an elevated production of uremic toxins by the gut microbiota, such as trimethylamine n-oxide (TMAO), indoxyl sulfate, and p-cresyl sulfate. Such uremic toxins can lead to your kidney dysfunction, you need to avoid excess meat intake.

4. Avoid Excess Caffeine intake

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant of the methylxanthine class. It is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive drug. Unlike many other psychoactive substances, it is legal and unregulated in nearly all parts of the world. There are several known mechanisms of action to explain the effects of caffeine. The most prominent is that it reversibly blocks the action of adenosine on its receptor and consequently prevents the onset of drowsiness induced by adenosine. Caffeine also stimulates certain portions of the autonomic nervous system. It is a chemical found in coffee, tea, cola, guarana, mate, and other products.

Caffeine causes a short but sudden increase in blood pressure. Research has not shown that drinking 3-4 cups of coffee a day increases the risk of kidney disease or increases rate of decline of kidney function. However, moderating how much coffee you drink is a good idea. Those struggling with blood pressure control should especially drink less than three cups per day. 

5. Drink plenty of water daily

A common misconception is that everyone should drink eight glasses of water per day, but since everyone is different, daily water needs will vary by person. How much water you need is based on differences in age, climate, exercise intensity, as well as states of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and illness.

About 60-70% of your body weight is made up of water, and every part of your body needs it to function properly. Water helps the kidneys remove wastes from your blood in the form of urine. Water also helps keep your blood vessels open so that blood can travel freely to your kidneys, and deliver essential nutrients to them. But if you become dehydrated, then it is more difficult for this delivery system to work. Mild dehydration can make you feel tired, and can impair normal bodily functions. Severe dehydration can lead to kidney damage, so it is important to drink enough when you work or exercise very hard, and especially in warm and humid weather

6. Early disease Diagnosis

For many diseases including Chronic Kidney disease, it is important to see your doctor for further diagnosis and early treatment. If you have any unusual symptoms relating to what I've listed above don't Ignore them see your doctor immediately.

CONCLUSION

Most people are victims of Chronic kidney disease without knowing, possibly because they don't have any symptoms or they are sick but don't understand the signs and symptoms of the disease. Please Checkout and understand the above listed symptoms of the disease, it may help you to know whether you are victims or not. Remember;  Early disease diagnosis reflects early disease treatment and better Doctor's decision relating to the severeness of the disease.

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Posted by: Lusubilo A. Mwaijengo