Kidney
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs, about the size of a fist, located on either side of the spine near the middle of the back. These amazing organs help you stay healthy in many ways, which is why kidney function is so important to your overall health.
Kidneys: The Ultimate Multitasker
Your kidneys remove excess water and waste from your body 24 hours a day. Excess water and waste products are excreted from the body in the form of urine. However, kidneys not only purify your blood but also play other important roles in your overall health. Your kidneys perform functions every day:
- Releases hormones to help regulate blood pressure
- Control sodium and fluid levels in the body
- Stimulates the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body
- Converts vitamin D into its active form to help your body absorb calcium
Parts and functions of kidneys
For each kidney:
- Renal arteries – large blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the kidneys for cleaning
- Renal vein – blood vessel that primarily collects blood from the kidneys and returns it to the heart
- Nephrons – millions of tiny filtering centers found in the kidneys
- Glomerulus – Special “filters” within each nephron that retain blood cells and essential materials in the blood and filter out excess fluid and waste products
- Ureter – Tube that leads from the bladder and allows urine to pass out of the body. Urine is produced when the kidneys filter out excess fluid and waste products
What can I do to keep my kidneys healthy?
You can protect your kidneys by living a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips that may help maintain good health, including kidney health:
- Make healthy food choices
- Make physical activity a part of your daily life
- Aim for a healthy weight
- Stay hydrated
- enough sleep
- Know your family medical history
- Have an annual physical exam
Choose healthy food
• Choose fresh foods. Eat more fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products, and avoid processed, prepackaged, and ready-to-eat foods.
• Reduce salt and added sugar intake. Cook with spice blends such as rosemary, paprika, curry powder or cumin instead of salt or soy sauce. Try to choose foods with little or no added sugar.
• Eat foods made from whole grains. Choose whole wheat, brown rice, oats and whole grain corn when possible. Use whole wheat bread for toast and sandwiches. Use brown rice instead of white rice when cooking at home and eating out.
• Read food labels and check ingredients. Choose foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars.
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Drinking too much alcohol can increase blood pressure and add extra calories, which can lead to weight gain.
Make physical activity a part of your daily life
Be active for 30 minutes or more most days. Healthy adults should aim for at least 150 minutes (or 2.5 hours) of physical activity per week. Choose an activity you enjoy, set fitness goals and start slow.
Ask your doctor about the type and amount of physical activity that is appropriate for you, especially if you have a health problem or injury.
Aim for a healthy weight
Regular physical activity can improve your health, mood, and may help with weight management. If you’re struggling with weight, a healthy eating plan and regular physical activity may help you lose weight and keep it off in the long term.
Stay hydrated
Drinking adequate amounts of fluids every day is an important part of kidney health. Everyone is different, and correct fluid intake depends on many factors and conditions. The color of your urine can tell you whether you’re drinking enough fluids. Your goal should be to produce straw-colored or lighter urine. If it is darker, you may be dehydrated and should drink more water.
Enough sleep
Getting enough quality sleep at the right time helps your brain function properly and may help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. The amount of sleep you need may vary from person to person and may change throughout your life. It’s also important to sleep when your body is ready for sleep, but aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
Be your own advocate!
Early kidney disease may not have any symptoms. If you have risk factors such as diabetes or high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney failure, you should talk to your doctor about your kidney health and help decide how often you should get tested.
Ask your doctor these questions
The sooner you understand your kidney health, the sooner you can get treatment that can help protect your kidneys. Asking you
doctor the following key questions about your kidney health during your next medical visit.
- What is my glomerular filtration rate (GFR)?
- What is my urine albumin result?
- What is my blood pressure?
- What is my blood glucose (for people with diabetes)?
- How often should I get my kidneys checked?
Other important questions
- What should I do to keep my kidneys healthy?
- Do I need to be taking different medicines?
- Should I be more physically active?
- What kind of physical activity can I do?
- What can I eat?
- Am I at a healthy weight?
- Do I need to talk with a dietitian to get help with meal planning?
- What happens if I have kidney disease?
When kidneys stop working
Kidney disease occurs when your kidneys don’t work as well as they should to filter waste, toxins and excess fluid from your body. The 2 leading causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension)– though age, weight, family history and ethnicity can also be factors.
Kidney disease is a process that is divided into 5 disease stages and usually takes place over a period of months or years. The process cannot be reversed, but with an early diagnosis, the right therapy option, and some lifestyle changes, it can be slowed down or in some cases even halted.
Kidney failure occurs at stage 5 of kidney disease. Fortunately, there are different treatment options that can take the place of some kidney functions and, along with medication and care, can help a person live longer. Damage from kidney disease is irreversible, so the Earlier it was diagnosed and action was taken, the better.