Post Date December, 03 2023
Poor kidney, all five organs and six organs are sick
The heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, although ranked last among the five organs, play the most important role. Experts have made an analogy: if the kidney is likened to a "boiler," the "cinder" (metabolites) produced by the body's combustion must be discharged through the boiler. Once there is a problem with the "boiler" and the waste cannot be discharged, not only will it damage the "boiler", but the entire system will also collapse.
Experts told reporters that the kidneys have three major functions: one is to generate urine and maintain water balance. Each kidney in the human body has approximately 1.3 million glomeruli, which can filter and clean 200 liters of blood per day, equivalent to 10 barrels of drinking water, forming about 1.8 liters of urine. When there is too much or too little water in the body, the kidneys regulate urine volume to maintain water balance in the body. The second is to excrete metabolites and toxic substances from the body.
The metabolism of the human body produces metabolic waste, such as urea, uric acid, creatinine, etc. The kidneys maintain normal physiological activity by excreting these waste from urine. The third is endocrine function. Secreting erythropoietin (EPO) to promote bone marrow hematopoiesis; Generate active vitamin D to regulate calcium and phosphorus metabolism, maintaining the normal structure and function of bones; Secreting vasoactive substances to regulate blood pressure, etc.
It is precisely because the kidneys have these three major functions that when the kidneys have problems, other parts of the body will also have problems. Academician Chen Xiangmei said that in the early stage of kidney disease, fatigue, fatigue, swollen eyelids, pale face, a lot of foam in urine, pain or difficulty in urination were the main causes.
Next, there will be decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting, low back pain, increased nocturia, systemic edema, elevated blood pressure, exhaled urine odor, bone pain, skin itching, muscle tremors, numbness in hands and feet, and delayed reactions. If severe, the above symptoms will continue to worsen, and at the same time, it will lead to multiple organ failure such as heart, liver, and lungs.
Kidney disease is a 'silent killer'
The latest epidemiological survey shows that chronic kidney disease has become one of the main diseases threatening public health worldwide, with a prevalence rate even higher than some common cancers.
"About 6.5% - 13.1% of the general population in developed countries suffer from kidney diseases of different degrees, of which the number of people with kidney diseases in the United States has exceeded 20 million, and hospitals receive more than 1 million kidney patients every year." Professor William Mitch, an internationally renowned nephrologist and former president of the American Society of Nephrology, told the Life Times reporter that more people have kidney diseases and have not gone to the hospital than have received patients.
Experts further point out that the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in China is about 10%, with approximately 450000 deaths from uremia each year. "This result is shocking, and it is closely related to people's failure to protect their kidneys
Compared to other major diseases that pose a threat to human health, chronic kidney disease can be said to be a silent killer. "Experts introduce that chronic kidney disease includes nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, renal failure, uremia, and so on. These diseases are very insidious and have no obvious symptoms at the onset, making it difficult for patients to take them seriously. Therefore, many patients have already developed into the terminal stage of kidney disease or even uremia when they start seeking medical attention.
The average annual medical expenses of uremic patients exceed 100000 yuan, causing many families to become poor or return to poverty due to illness. The best way to avoid this is to properly protect their kidneys.
■ The Four Lifestyles Most Harmful to Kidney
Nowadays, people pay more and more attention to nutrition and health, but why is the incidence rate of kidney disease still high? Professor William Mitch believes that this is caused by multiple factors, and people's lifestyles are closely related to kidney health. Academician Chen Xiangmei also stated that modern people have four major ways of life that can cause kidney damage.
Eat seafood and drink beer. Eating a large amount of high protein diet, such as big fish and meat, can produce excessive metabolic waste such as uric acid and urea nitrogen, increasing the burden of kidney excretion. However, heavy drinking can easily lead to hyperuricemia. These habits can also cause metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia and kidney diseases. Summer has arrived, and many people like to drink beer while eating seafood, which was once referred to as the "most kidney damaging eating method" by nephrologists.
Stay up late, eat salty, and avoid drinking water. Long term staying up late, high work pressure, and a love for strong tea and coffee can easily lead to kidney function problems. Eating a salty diet can lead to an increase in blood pressure and the inability of the kidneys to maintain normal blood flow, leading to kidney disease. If you don't drink water for a long time, your urine output will decrease, and the concentration of waste and toxins carried in your urine will increase, which can easily lead to kidney stones, hydronephrosis, and so on.
Taking medication indiscriminately or excessively. Long term use of nephrotoxic drugs can easily lead to renal tubulointerstitial damage. These drugs include Chinese herbal medicines containing aristolochic acid, such as Guanmutong, Fangji, Qingmucang, etc., as well as non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotic, such as analgesic tablets, paracetamol, etc., which are prone to kidney damage.
Regularly holding urine. Urine in the bladder can breed bacteria over time, which can retrograde through the ureter to the kidneys, leading to urinary tract infections and pyelonephritis. Once repeated, it can cause chronic infection and is difficult to cure.
Abstract: In daily life, although some people often cover their waist and joke that their kidneys are not good, in fact, less than 10% of people truly understand the manifestations of kidney disease, and even many non nephrologists know very little about kidney disease. So, as one of the important organs in the five organs and six organs, what are the important functions of the kidney, and why are kidney diseases frequently occurring? See what authoritative nephrologists say.
■ Protecting the kidneys can lead to longevity
There is a saying in traditional Chinese medicine that 'if you want to live a long life, take good care of your kidneys'. Although the meaning of "kidney" in Chinese and Western medicine is different, this sentence applies to both. Professor William Mitch stated that if people can take good care of their kidneys and reduce the occurrence of kidney diseases, the overall lifespan of humans will increase.
Experts say, "Kidney disease can cause slow and sustained damage to kidney function, and over time, the quality of life decreases, seriously affecting human lifespan." She suggests doing the following six things well to protect one's kidneys.
1、 Balanced diet. Reduce salt intake and have a light diet. Mix meat and vegetables to avoid overeating. Drink plenty of water appropriately and avoid holding urine.
2、 Regularly adhere to daily physical activity and exercise, control weight, and avoid catching colds.
3、 When infection occurs in the throat, tonsils, and other organs, immediate and thorough treatment with antibiotics is necessary under the guidance of a doctor, otherwise streptococcal infection can easily lead to kidney disease.
4、 Quit smoking and drink in moderation; Avoid drug abuse and avoid long-term consumption of painkillers and Chinese herbal medicines containing aristolochic acid.
5、 It is best for women to check for kidney disease and renal insufficiency before pregnancy, otherwise if they have already contracted kidney disease and become pregnant blindly, the kidney disease may quickly worsen.
6、 Regularly check urine routine and renal function every year, and also perform kidney ultrasound at the same time, in order to detect and treat early.
