10 SIGNS YOUR KIDNEYS ARE CRYING FOR HELP.
10 signs that your kidneys need help kidneys are our body's filter when they don't fuction well toxins will build up causing major issues sadly more than 37 million Americans suffer from kidney disease and only 10 percent of the people living with chronic kidney disease Know They have it.
This is partly because some of the earliest signs of kidney disease can be attributed to other conditions the most severe symptoms appear in the relatively advanced stages but a wise man once said that an ounce of prevention is worth a punt of pure.
So in this Post we will cover 10 signs that your kidneys need help and nine ways to prevent any issues early on.
Before we proceed please note that everything mentioned in this Post is unbiased fact checked and reviewed by qualified health professionals with that said, let's jump in talk about 10 signs that your kidneys need help.
1. FATIGUE.
Kidneys filter all the toxins in our body so when they're not functioning properly a lot of impurities can form in our blood this can make us feel tired weak dizzy and unable to focus moreover healthy kidneys produce erythropoietin which is a hormone that contributes to the creation of red blood cells in the body.
Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout our bodies the less red blood cells we have the more tired and fragile we will feel this is where anemia kicks in.
2. FEELING COLD EVEN IF IT'S WARM IN THE ROOM.
Kidney disease can lead to anaemia, and anaemia will make you get the chills even if all the other people in the room are feeling warm this is a sign of kidney disease that can very easily go unnoticed or simply be attributed to anaemia without checking the underlying cause.
So make sure you get your kidneys checked as well if you always get the chills in a warm room.
3. SHORTNESS OF BREATH.
Being short of breath is usually attributed to heart or lung diseases however breathlessness can also be caused by kidney disease the extra fluids and toxins in our body that extra fluids and toxins in our body.
That our kidneys cannot filter can build up in the lungs causing shortness of breath moreover the low number of red blood cells and anaemia can also starve your body of oxygen, is some severe cases lying down can make you feel like drowning This is when you have to go see a doctor immediately.
4. DRY AND ITCHY SKIN.
Besides filtering the toxins in our body and helping create red blood cells our kidneys also help maintain the proper amount of bone minerals therefore dry and itchy skin can be a sign of failing kidneys that can no longer keep the mineral balance in your body.
Moreover the accumulation of toxins in our bloodstream can cause skin reactions of all sorts so don't ignore these signs.
5. SWOLLEN ANKLES, FEET OR HANDS.
Kidneys not working properly will cause a lot of fluid up in the body forever when your kidneys are failing a lot of sodium will accumulate all these will lead to swollen legs ankles feet or hands however the swelling of the extremities can also be a sign of liver, heart or chronic vein diseases.
This is why sometimes people ignore swollen feet or hands.
6. FEELING ''PUFFY'' AROUND YOUR EYES.
When your damaged kidneys let protein leak into the urine you can also experience a puffiness around your eyes and face so not only your feet ankles or hands will be swollen.
But also your face these symptoms can also signal other disorders as well so it's better to go to a doctor to see what the problem is.
7. BAD BREATH AND METAL TASTE.
eople suffering from kidney disease may complain that food tastes like metal they might also have a foul breath at all times moreover people with this symptom might also have a low appetite.
All these are caused by an accumulation of toxins in your blood called uraemia bad breath can be followed by nausea and vomiting even thinking about food can make you sick, don't wait too long at this stage you need to see doctor.
8. URINATION ISSUES.
Kidneys help us with our urine production frequent urination followed by pain or burning sensations is a problem moreover if you notice a decrease in the amount of urine that can also signal a kidney problem.
If you get up ion the middle of the night to go pee often that can also be a symptom of kidney failure so go see a doctor immediately.
9. FOAMY OR BLOODY URINE.
Also known as hematuria can be a sign of kidney infections tutors or kidney stones or kidney failure when the kidneys are not functioning properly blood can get in the urine this will cause the urine to turn brown red or purple women might ignore these symptoms and associate it with a late period.
But it's not foamy urine is not good either discoloured urine with bubbles or white foam can indicate a vast amount of protein in the urine this foam looks much like the foam you see when making scrambled eggs as it is actually albumin the same protein found in eggs.
10. TROUBE SLEEPING.
When kidneys are failing they are not filtering properly so the toxins stay in your bloodstream wreaking all sorts of chaos in the body.
This will make it difficult to sleep and get proper rest it can also cause sleep apnea sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes you to stop and start breathing during sleep this can cause you to snore badly and in some cases it cases it can even be obstructive.
Sleep Apnea is very common in people suffering from chronic kidney disease now that we've gone through all the major signs of kidney disease let's look at nine ways to prevent kidney disease in the first place how to keep your kidneys healthy.
9 WAYS TO PREVENT KIDNEY DISEASE.
1. Proper Hydration,
As you might have guessed the first step to prevent kidney disease is to hydrate properly so drink between four and six glasses of water a dat to help your kidneys function properly overdoing it won't help as studies have confirmed over hydration has no real benefit on your kidneys.
2. Be Careful with Medication.
Non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen can damage your kidneys if you're overdoing them other types of medications such as proton pump inhibitors PPI taken for long periods of time can make you more prone to kidney disease.
So take medication in moderation and only when you absolutely need to.
3. STAY ACTIVE AND FIT.
Regular exercise is key to a healthy life it is good for your waistline your heart your brain your lungs and your kidneys as well regular exercise helps you keep an optimal blood pressure for healthy kidneys run cycle swimmer go for a walk every day and you will rep the benefits in the long term.
There's no excuse for not staying active you've got time to exercise there are countless activities that you can easily add to your busy schedule do it for your kidneys for your happiness for yourself.
4. EAT HEALTHY FOODS.
Studies have pointed out that kidney problems can be correlated with other medical conditions and triggered by high blood pressure diabetes or cardiovascular diseases all these afflictions usually appear in time caused by a poor diet and lack excise.
So if you want to prevent kidney disease make sure you follow a healthy nutrition plan it's not boring it can be delicious and it's definitely good for your body after all food is the best medicine of all.
5. TAKE ANTIBIOTICS ONLY WHEN YOU NEED TO
Antibiotics are another class of medications that can have serious effects on your kidneys they are strong drugs able to kick bacteria right out of your body however not without leaving some traces behind antibiotic have lots of toxins and your kidneys will go in overdrive mode to try cleanse these toxic effects.
If your kidneys are perfects healthy antibiotics won't cause much of a problem however if you have problems with kidneys make sure discuss with a doctor before you take penicillin sulphonamides or other such antibiotics.
6. KEEP YOUR BLOOD SUGAR IN CHECK.
People with high blood sugar levels or diabetes can also develop kidney problems this is because the sugar in the blood can damage the nephrite and blood. vessells in the kidneys so they won't work as they should people suffering from diabetes have to be extra cautious.
When it comes to their kidney health however if you can spot the damage early on by having regular checks at the doctor you can prevent additional damage.
7. AVOID USING TOO MANY SUPPLEMENTS.
As you have seen medication is not good for your kidneys neither are vitamins and pother herbal extracts protein bars shakes and so on your kidneys might have to put in some extra effort to filter out the waste from these compounds.
So don't overdo it when it comes to these supplements or talk to your doctor firts he might be able to read the ingredients in all these supplements and let you know if there are any risks for your kidneys hovers as a general rule avoid ingesting too many supplements.
8. AVOID SMOKING AND DRINKING TOO MUCH.
It's no secret that smoking and heavy drinking can have serious effects on your body in the term so try to quit smoking and limit the amount of alcohol you drink in general heavy drinking and smoking 'will raise your blood pressure levels and thus damage your kidneys in the long term high blood pressure will constrict the narrow blood vessels in your kidneys which in time will weaken them.
9. TEST YOUR KIDNEY FUNCTION REGULARLY IF YOU'RE AT RISK.
If you are over 60 years old born with a low birth weight or have a family history of cardiovascular disease you should test your kidney function regularly it's the best way to prevent any further complications regulars screening is also recommended for people with high blood pressure or a family history of such issue people dealing with obesity should also get a regular kidney screening better to prevent than to treat so take of your body have an active lifestyle.
And keep your kidneys in good condition they're crucial for your overall health.
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