April 12, 2024
When you think of your vital organs, you probably think of your heart and lungs. But your kidneys also play a big role in how your body functions.
Your two kidneys are located below your ribcage on opposite sides of your spine. They resemble beans and are about the size of your fist.
Their primary function is to remove waste and excess water from your body. Kidneys accomplish this by filtering about a half cup of blood every minute, resulting in about 60 full blood filtrations a day.
In addition to filtering your blood, these important organs:
• Regulate your blood pressure
• Make a hormone that creates red blood cells
• Keep your bones healthy by making vitamin D
• Maintain a healthy balance of the chemicals that control your body’s acid levels
Many things can go wrong with your kidneys, ranging from infections to chronic diseases.
Kidney infection
Pyelonephritis is a kidney infection that occurs when bacteria moves from your bladder up to your kidneys. An infection is usually diagnosed by testing a urine sample. If an infection is detected, your health care provider will treat it with an antibiotic.
Kidney stones
Hard deposits of minerals and salts called kidney stones can form inside your kidneys. People usually pass them through urination, but larger stones may require surgery to remove.
Kidney cysts
Most kidney cysts are harmless, water-filled sacs that form on or inside your kidney. They are called simple kidney cysts and usually require no treatment. Others, called complex kidney cysts, can be solid, oddly shaped, and have thick walls. These types of cysts can sometimes be a sign of cancer.
Kidney cancer
When cells in your kidney grow out of control, it can lead to kidney cancer. Symptoms include pain, high blood pressure, and blood in your urine. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Chronic kidney disease
If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), your kidneys are damaged and can’t filter the excess fluid and waste out of your blood. CKD usually gets worse over time, although treatment has been shown to slow its progression.
Kidney failure
If you experience kidney failure, one (or both) of your kidneys is no longer able to function on its own. Kidney failure can come on suddenly or develop slowly over time. Once you’re in kidney failure, a transplant or dialysis is required.
You are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease if you have:
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• A family history of kidney failure
Managing these health conditions can help keep your kidneys functioning properly. If you have diabetes, it’s important to regularly check your blood glucose levels to ensure that they are close to where they should be. If you have high blood pressure, talk with your health care provider about blood pressure medications that can help protect the kidneys.
To prevent diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, you should avoid smoking, limit your alcohol intake, exercise regularly, make sleep a priority, aim for a healthy weight, and maintain a healthy diet.
Limit your intake of salts and added sugars and eat a diet rich in fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. You should also be careful about using certain over-the-counter pain medications, since excessive use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can damage your kidneys. Diuretics, laxatives, ACE inhibitors, statins, antibiotics, and antiviral agents can also keep your kidneys from functioning properly.
If you have a health condition that puts you at a higher risk for developing chronic kidney disease, it’s important to have your kidneys monitored by a health care provider. Doctors evaluate kidney function using two tests: a blood test that checks how well your kidneys are able to filter blood, and urine test that checks for albumin and creatine.
From filtering waste and regulating blood pressure to producing essential hormones, your kidneys play a vital role in your overall health. By managing certain health conditions and adopting a healthy lifestyle, you can help keep your kidneys functioning at their best for years to come.
