Kidneys that work well
To be sure that our kidneys are working well, we just have to accept the urinalysis that occupational medicine offers us. The presence of albumin or blood may indicate a kidney or bladder impairment, which will require further testing for confirmation. Moreover, the concentration of creatinine in the blood gives a good picture of kidney function. Above all, this measurement makes it possible to calculate the clearance, a much more precise indicator of the filtration rate, taking into account age, sex and weight. Its normal value is approximately 100ml / min. Urea can also be measured: regular analyzes are recommended in cases of diabetes or vascular disease and after the age of fifty.
I have kidney pain …
The two small bean-shaped organs, located under the ribs, cause very little pain. When we say that we have “back pain”, it is usually the back that makes us suffer. The only exception: when a stone blocks the passage of urine, triggering renal colic. Other kidney diseases have few symptoms. Almost 3 million people suffer from kidney failure to varying degrees without knowing it.
6 tips for healthy kidneys
– Avoid overweight and excess cholesterol, bad for the heart and blood vessels.
– Do not eat too much salt because salt promotes hypertension.
– Stop smoking because tobacco is the enemy of the arteries.
– Avoid overconsumption of drugs, especially laxatives and anti-inflammatory drugs.
– Do not multiply high-protein diets (which tire the kidneys).
Drink a lot or not?
Drinking a lot is essential in case of cystitis or a tendency to have stones. The rest of the time, apart from exceptional situations (a heatwave for example), drinking when you feel like it is sufficient. Very often offering water to children is not helpful, except in cases of diarrhea. Be careful, however, if you are constantly thirsty: it is sometimes a sign of diabetes at its onset or simply of a diet that is too salty, which is bad for the kidneys. The right amount: drink between 1 and 1.5 liters per day.
Diseases that damage the kidneys
As a result of neglected cystitis, infections can sometimes move up the urinary tract and attack the kidneys. They cause pyelonephritis, always accompanied by fever. Deformities (polycystosis) and diseases resulting from an immune disorder (glomerulonephritis) can also cause damage. But the most common causes of kidney failure are blood vessel effects, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Strong kidneys
Fortunately, a diseased kidney continues to perform its functions for quite a long time. Because we have thousands of nephrons, each of which constitutes a small filtration unit. Those who are active make up for the absence of others. A kidney is still functioning quite well with 20% of its nephrons. We can therefore live normally with only one kidney. But it is more risky with only one kidney being damaged because the remaining nephrons hypertrophy to increase their filtration capacity, which causes their destruction. A vicious cycle that leads to kidney failure.
