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The kidneys are definitely one of the most vital organs for the normal everyday functioning of our body .Our kidneys play a vital role in excreting natural waste and toxins out of the body. Owing to our current lifestyle and general food habits though, we can without doubt state that it is the most abused organs amongst all. Every day, in the course of living a normal, habitual life within the realm of our very natural habitat we not only overload the kidneys with an excess of work but also cause harm to it in many unsavoury ways. Even though the kidneys are the only organ which are present in a pair wherein losing one would still give us a chance at life it is not uncommon for us to hear of failure of both the kidneys either at a go or one at a time amongst certain individuals. Failure of just one kidney can cause a lot of discomfort within the day in and day out functioning of our lives where we might be forced to draw a formal line about us and live within the sphere of a well exercised routine mode of physical conduct whereas losing both the kidneys can mean only one thing and that is certain death. The most defining functions of the kidneys are:
- Filtering waste out of the blood
- Regulating the body’s salt, potassium and acid content
- Removal of harmful drugs from the body
- Balancing the body’s fluids
- Releasing hormones that regulate blood pressure
- Producing an active form of vitamin D that promotes healthy bones
- Controlling the production of red blood cells
There are numerous ways in which we may harm our kidneys and bring upon a red light signal onto ourselves: from growing obese to using non-stick cookware lined by Teflon has been recognized as possible means which could damage our kidneys. There is also a thought which rings an alarm to the presence of fluoride compounds in the regular water supply and exposure to toxic mold at home or elsewhere which might spell doom for our organs specifically designed for the excretion of waste materials. Since getting unnaturally fat can lead us to an area of a major kidney disease, consumption of carbonated soda drinks have been linked to very particular type of kidney failures. There is a medically backed fact, which states that even emotions, such as frequent fearfulness, play a formidable role in increasing the risks of arriving at a kidney malfunction. Cases of diabetes, hypertension, smoking and age also bring on a kidney ailment amongst certain other risk factors.
One of the most dreadful fact of one having a kidney break down is, there is no initial alarm to show that not all is okay with the organs. Even the most salient signs often come by only at a stage whence the damage is extensive. In medical terminology it is often referred to as the “silent disease”. However, if one is careful enough and has a wee bit of doubt that he/she maybe heading for some sort of kidney trouble the important signs to watch out for are thus:
- Change in frequency and quantity of urine passed, especially at night (usually increase comes first)
- Blood in the urine (haematuria)
- Foaming urine
- Puffiness around the eyes and ankles (oedema)
- Pain in the back (under the lower ribs, where the kidneys are located)
- Pain or burning when passing urine
As the victim of a kidney ailment moves on so does the disease and it is then that the supposed patient begins to gradually show these symptoms:
- Tiredness and inability to concentrate
- Generally feeling unwell
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shortness of breath
Early detection of a kidney disease can be life saving. If detected early, the progress of a kidney disease can be slowed down and sometimes even be prevented – but if kidney function is reduced to less than 10 per cent of the normal then renal dialysis or a kidney transplant remains the only possibility for the patient to carry on with life.
Kidney failure is one of the most disastrous realities of our times. So often do we now get to hear of people dear to us complaining of a variety of kidney function deterioration due to numerous causes. What, however, needs to be kept in mind is, lifestyle changes alone can keep your kidneys healthy and it’s problems at bay. Eating lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, staying away from artificial sugars and sodas and consumption of as much water as the body requires can be a starter to halt one’s kidneys from declining to a worse state. Keeping a thorough check on the blood pressure level and the accumulation of fatty tissues through the means of regular exercise could go a long way in preserving one’s kidneys at its best form so as to ensure that if the waste is going where it should go, the rest of the house and the household is free of dangerous muck.
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