Our body is made up of many essential organs, all of them with vital functions without which we can not survive. One of the important organs with a variety of major roles is the kidneys. Since they pump our blood and produce urine, they are in charge of washing and detoxifying our bodies. They also clean out our body's waste and extra water, increase the amount of red blood cells, regulate our blood pressure, boost the health of our muscles, and keep our electrolytes under control.
Perhaps, though, something interrupts the operation of the kidneys and puts our whole body at danger. This will result in some kind of kidney dysfunction and jeopardize our health. That's why learning how to recognise the early alerts and signals your body is giving when your kidneys are not functioning correctly and respond quickly is really critical for you.
Consult the doctor if you experience any of the following signs and check your kidneys if they are at risk:
- Pressure in the area of the kidney
You are potentially diagnosed with kidney stones or some sort of UTI if you experience discomfort in the kidney region.
- Tiredness
If the kidneys are good they release a hormone called erythropoietin which is in charge of increasing the number of red blood cells. If they don't produce enough of this hormone the red blood cells count decreases and it manifests by weakness and brain and muscle issues. This may be a sign of anemia, too, so contact the doctor to see what the concern is.
- Dizziness and focusing problems
You may have serious anemia or kidney disease if you frequently feel dizzy or have attention problems and memory loss. To see for sure and behave accordingly, consult with your doctor.
- Rashes on the skin
When the body is filled with chemicals and the kidneys do not function properly, dry skin and rashes can occur. By adding lotions and creams topically, you can't solve this because the issue comes from the inside.
- Metallic smell in the mouth
It can be activated by waste buildup in the blood if you have poor breath and the food tastes strange. Kidney harm is often manifested by the metallic taste and weak appetite in your mouth.
- Shortness of Respiration
If the count of red blood cells is poor, your body does not have enough oxygen, which will almost constantly render you out of breath. There is some form of kidney injury associated with reduced red blood cell counts.
- Urine shifts
Kidney injury is most frequently manifested by variations in urine, such as dark urine or pale urine, urinating less than normal or more than usual, foamy urine, repeated urination during the night, discomfort and pressure during urination, etc.
- Inflammation
When the work of your kidney is somehow affected, the body builds up extra fluids and this leads to swelling of the joints, face and limbs.
You might need to get dialysis if you hit the point where your kidneys stop functioning entirely. Two types of dialysis occur. The more popular alternative (haemodialysis) involves diverting the blood before returning it to the body to a system that cleans it, much as the kidneys usually does. The peritoneal cavity (a room in your abdomen containing tons of tiny blood vessels) is used as a filtering system instead of a computer for another type of dialysis (peritoneal dialysis).
You will be able to choose which form of dialysis you choose to get. Haemodialysis typically occurs at a recovery facility three days a week, or at home more frequently. In the other hand, peritoneal dialysis has to happen every day, so when you sleep, it can also be performed overnight.
Unless you undergo a kidney transplant, dialysis would normally be a permanent form of therapy.
A widespread medical disorder that affects lots of older people is chronic kidney disease. Around 50 percent of individuals over 75 have a degree of kidney failure, according to Kidney Care UK. At a younger age, people of African and Asian descent are more likely to acquire the disease.
In the body, the kidneys play a very significant function. They pump the blood, extract the bloodstream toxins and turn the waste into urine. They also generate some essential hormones that control blood pressure and critical red blood cell production. Bad kidney function can also contribute, as well as other complications, to high blood pressure and anaemia.