Tips for maintaining good kidney health

Urological Health

How can one examine the condition of their kidneys? 

These are two straightforward exams.

The kidneys, along with the heart and brain, are essential to your survival. These two little organs in your lower back, about the size of a fist, are extremely important because they filter out excess fluid and waste. Additionally, they maintain a healthy blood pressure level. Most people are curious about their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Individuals need to be aware of their kidney health and any signs of chronic renal disease.

Safeguard the kidneys

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs 

•  The kidneys fail to sufficiently filter blood.
• The kidneys have incurred damage. 
• This condition is often attributed to diabetes. 

Diabetics in India often have this condition. According to research, about 20% of diabetics experience chronic kidney disease (CKD), which suggests that the condition is underdiagnosed in our nation. According to another estimation, the chronic illness affects around one-eighth of the population.

Why is understanding kidney health crucial?

• A diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) indicates 
• You have been experiencing renal problems for at least a few months. 
• Chronic renal disease can develop slowly and unnoticeably. 
• Dialysis and kidney transplants are common treatments for these patients.
• A gradual decline in kidney function could go undetected for a long time. 

When people learn they have chronic renal disease (CKD), it is usually after it has progressed to a stage when preventative treatment is no longer an option.  That's why it's crucial to be aware of your kidney stats.

Two key indicators for renal disease detection

* The estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and the urine Albumin-Creatinine Ratio (uACR) are two important tests used to diagnose kidney disease. A blood test measures eGFR, while a urine test measures uACR. eGFR measures the efficiency of the kidneys in filtering blood, while uACR indicates the presence of albumin in the urine, which could indicate kidney impairment.

eGFR

* We compute eGFR using steady serum creatinine levels at least once a year, especially in all diabetic patients. Serum creatinine alone is not a reliable indicator of eGFR. Muscle mass and age, sex, and race are associated variables that influence serum creatinine. People whose creatinine levels fluctuate a lot, have very large or very little muscle, or have changed their eating habits should not use eGFR.

uACR

* Essentially, a uACR test tells the doctor or physician the amount of albumin that goes into your urine in 24 hours. Results of 30 or above for urine albumin indicate the possibility of kidney disease. You can repeat the test to confirm the results. To identify and track kidney impairment in individuals with type 1 diabetes who have had the disease for five years or longer or with type 2 diabetes, it is necessary to get urine albumin excretion tested annually. When a patient's clinical status changes or after therapeutic interventions, it may be necessary to monitor them more frequently.

* In addition to your kidney statistics, your doctor will take a picture of your urinary system and kidneys using imaging techniques, including CT scans and ultrasounds, as well as your medical history. This is how a thorough evaluation might help diagnose or rule out chronic kidney disease.

* Both patients and the healthcare system in India are feeling the effects of the increasing incidence of chronic renal disease. The increasing number of cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the nation is putting a strain on healthcare systems, which must be addressed by increasing public awareness of the disease and encouraging screening for early detection. 

There is good news: People with chronic renal disease can have a very bright prognosis when the disease is detected early and treated appropriately.

Are there changes in skin tone, dryness, and edema? 

Quick action is required to treat your kidneys.

• You can damage your kidneys by drinking alcohol, eating processed foods, eating too many sweets, and not getting enough sleep. 
• Nevertheless, it is common to disregard the skin symptoms or other indicators of a kidney disease until the condition worsens.
• You must not disregard any of these skin-related symptoms that may indicate a sick kidney.

Severe Dehydration

Although changes in the weather can cause dry skin, this symptom, if it persists for an extended period of time, could indicate that your kidneys require immediate medical attention. Dialysis patients are at increased risk for developing skin dryness, scaliness, crackiness, and tightness, all of which are signs of end-stage kidney failure.

Also, read https://kidneyfailurerisk.com/.

Dermatitis and blisters

• Additionally, skin lesions like rashes and blisters can indicate a serious renal condition. When the bean-shaped organs in your body aren't working properly, it might cause certain rashes. Clusters of tiny, dome-shaped pimples that are exceedingly irritating develop into a rough patch on certain people.
• People with renal disease often experience blisters on their skin, which can spread to their hands, feet, and face. These blisters can become crusted and leave scars.

Increase in size

Swelling is an indication of slow kidney function. When your body is unable to eliminate toxins and retains excess fluids, including salt, you may see swelling in many parts of your body, including your feet, legs, hands, and perhaps even your face. Another symptom of kidney disease is a swollen appearance around the eyes.

Variations in Skin Tone

Your kidneys' inability to filter your blood properly as your disease progresses allows toxins to remain in your bloodstream, which eventually changes your skin tone. Consequently, a severe case of renal disease is characterized by a grayish or yellowish skin tone.

Ditch Pain

Maintaining healthy bones relies heavily on kidney function. When they aren't functioning correctly, they lead to subcutaneous calcium deposits, which primarily impact the fingers, knees, and elbows. When your kidneys aren't working right, you may notice an increase in the amounts of minerals like sodium and phosphate, which the body needs to keep in check.

Tips for maintaining good kidney health

In observance of World Kidney Day, doctors stated that screening is important since kidney disease often goes undiagnosed for longer periods, delaying treatment and potentially leading to life-threatening complications.

* A vital function of the body is that of the kidneys. It aids in regulating blood pressure, preserving bone health, and keeping hemoglobin normal (crucial for delivering oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the tissues), among other things. They also clean the blood of different metabolic waste products.

* Kidney disease is characterized by a wide range of symptoms, including but not limited to extreme weariness, irregularities in urine production, edema of the face and feet, and high blood pressure.

* In its early stages, kidney illness may not cause any symptoms at all. However, after the disease progresses, symptoms may become apparent. Indraprastha Apollo Hospital's Director and Head of Nephrology and Kidney Transplant, Dr. Amit Gupta, told IANS that patients often don't have symptoms until the disease has progressed.

* Because kidney disease often goes unnoticed for a longer period, the phrase "kidneys can be a silent killer" describes it well. Dr. P.N. Gupta, Director and Head of Nephrology at Paras Hospitals in Gurugram, noted that normal and regular investigations can discover kidney illness early on, allowing for management before it negatively impacts the patient's health.

* The main causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is characterized by the gradual failure of the kidneys for months to years, are hypertension and diabetes. People who have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), such as those with a family history of the disease, a history of diabetes or hypertension, or who use opioids often, should be "screened regularly."

Blood and urine tests should be done every 6 to 12 months for those at risk of renal problems, according to Gupta.

* "About half of the patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR), a complication of diabetes that impacts the eyes, also have chronic kidney disease (CKD)," says Dr. Parth Rana of Netralaya Hospital in Ahmedabad.

* Over 62% of chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases in India are attributable to diabetes, and among Indians with diabetes, 18% get diabetic retinopathy in urban areas.

* Disease duration is inversely related to the prevalence of chronic kidney disease and diabetic retinopathy. Additionally, Rana told IANS that diabetic retinopathy might happen before chronic kidney disease starts or gets worse because both conditions share similar risk factors like smoking, poor blood sugar control, high blood pressure, or unhealthy cholesterol levels.

* He elaborated by saying that damage to the body's small blood vessels caused by high sugar levels is a common thread between CKD and diabetic retinopathy.

* There is an increased incidence of age-related eye disorders in patients with CKD. The most common causes of blindness in middle-aged and older individuals are age-related eye illnesses, including glaucoma, cataracts, retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration.

* In addition, COVID exacerbated renal disease in people who were already experiencing it. Kidney failure is associated with an increased incidence of severe COVID-19, according to multiple studies.

* Others demonstrated that dialysis patients are more likely to have less robust antibody responses following immunization.

* Dr. Salil Jain, director and head of the nephrology clinic at the Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurugram, said, "It is well known that patients with CKD are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality secondary to COVID-19 infection."

* "There was approximately a 30 percent mortality rate in patients on hemodialysis during the second wave as compared to a normal population where the mortality rate was 10 percent," according to him.

* Hemodialysis removes excess fluid, salt, and waste from the blood when the kidneys can no longer perform their filtration function properly.

Conclusion

Drinking lots of water, avoiding painkillers and traditional drugs, controlling blood pressure and diabetes, quitting smoking, reducing sodium intake, and maintaining physical activity are key preventive measures against kidney illness.