PT Health Life – Kidneys play a very important role in human activities. The kidneys maintain water balance, ensuring stable levels of essential minerals. In addition to dangerous kidney diseases such as kidney cancer, polycystic kidney, kidney tuberculosis… there are also 6 common kidney diseases.
1. The importance of kidneys to the body
The kidney is an excretory organ in the urinary system with an important role. The kidneys lie symmetrically across the spine. The position of the right kidney is lower than that of the left kidney and the distance between them ranges from half to one vertebra.
The kidney consists of two main regions: the outer cortex and the medulla. In particular, the outer shell is red and contains capillaries. Parts located outside the cortex, such as the glomerulus, glomerular cyst, etc. In the renal medulla, there will be a renal pyramid and middle renal tubule that specialize in performing important tasks.
The main functions of the kidney are:
- Filters blood and waste products. This is the main function and also an important task to eliminate harmful toxins by forming urine and pushing them out. Blood cells or proteins that are good for the body will be retained to ensure the body’s vital activities are in the best state.
- Urine excretion. Nephron units of the kidney will participate in the process of urine formation. They will go through three main stages including dialysis, reabsorption and finally urine excretion.
- Regulates blood volume. The kidneys are also organs that are deeply involved in the process of regulating blood volume.
- In addition, the kidneys also participate in the process of stimulating vitamin D absorption, regulating blood pressure and controlling body conditions,…
2. Kidney diseases are common
2.1 CKD
This is when the kidneys are not strong enough to eliminate all waste, causing toxic substances and excess fluid to stay in the body. Based on the indicators of albumin, creatinine, urea, protein… through urine tests, the kidney disease status will be known.
There are 3 types of kidney failure: acute kidney failure, chronic kidney failure and end-stage kidney failure. Acute kidney failure is largely due to decreased blood volume, making the kidneys unable to perform the function of excretion and water regulation.
Chronic renal failure when creatinine clearance falls below 40ml/min. These are chronic tubular-interstitial diseases. In chronic kidney failure, some severe cases require hemodialysis or kidney transplantation to maintain life. This is also end-stage kidney failure.
2.2 Kidney stones
When suffering from kidney stones and urinary tract stones, patients will experience difficulty urinating, painful urination, frequent urination, changes in urine color (cloudy, red…), low urine output, lumbar pain, and fatigue. May be accompanied by fever or without fever…
The cause of kidney stones is due to metabolic disorders in the body, especially increased calcium in the urine due to excess calcium in the diet, metabolic disorders of the endocrine and parathyroid glands. status.
Another common cause of kidney stones is urinary tract infection.
2.3 Kidney disease
It is a common inflammatory condition caused by infection or drug or chemical poisoning. The bacteria that cause the disease are usually Enterobacter, E.Coli, Proteur… Nephritis is divided into two types, which are acute glomerulonephritis and chronic glomerulonephritis.
Acute glomerulonephritis is a common kidney disease in children from 2 to 15 years old. Caused by streptococcal infection or superinfected foci of infection. Poor sanitary conditions are also favorable conditions for disease. Chronic glomerulonephritis is a complication of acute glomerulonephritis, common in adults.
2.4 Acute tubulonephritis
Acute tubulonephritis is often caused by lead, mercury, and sulfamide poisoning, causing the patient to be unable to urinate, have high blood urea, and have protein in the urine, with many red blood cells and granular white blood cells.
Some other substances that cause toxic tubulonephritis include esen, tetrachloride, oxatic acid, phosphocarbon, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, cantarite, pyramydon naptol, chloroform, vitamin D2.
Essential minerals are calcium, which produces hormones such as erythropoietin, enzymes and vitamins, which help regulate blood pressure and red blood cell count…
2.5 Fatty kidney
When the kidneys are fatty, the patient will suddenly experience edema, or edema after common infections such as sore throat. Treatment requires a combination of a diet limited in salt, low in water, high in vitamins and medication as prescribed by the doctor.
Use corticosteroid drugs properly according to the recommended dosage to avoid complications or side effects of the drug.
2.6 Nephrotic syndrome
When pathogens are deposited in the glomerulus. Many times, nephrotic syndrome is caused by incorrect dosage of medication. When the drug is stopped, the glomeruli may return to normal.
Doctor’s advice
In general, kidney diseases are very dangerous and are serious illnesses that require active treatment at medical facilities. People with diabetes, high blood pressure or a family member with hereditary kidney disease should regularly see a urologist. Through urine tests, blood tests and blood pressure monitoring, it will help them control kidney activity accurately and promptly.
Change your lifestyle and activities: Regularly provide the body with the necessary amount of water, at least 2 liters of water per day to ensure the most effective process of eliminating toxins.
Limit your intake of salt. Add more vegetables, tubers, and fruits to improve the body’s resistance.
