The kidneys are responsible for filtering and cleaning waste products from the blood and eliminating excess fluid in the form of urine. It also helps control blood pressure, make new red blood cells, and keep bones healthy. The kidneys are located on each side of the body, at the level of the person’s waist, on either side of the spinal cord, under the rib cage, near the back. They are similar in size. Urea binds to organs such as the kidneys, bladder, and urethra, where urine is transported and stored.
Kidneys have very important and vital functions in the body. It cleans and filters water, acid and waste from the blood. Then they convert these wastes into urine to be eliminated from the body. But if the kidneys are somehow diseased, damaged, or covered in scar tissue, they can’t do their job of maintaining a healthy balance of salt in the blood and minerals like calcium and water.
PROTEIN
Protein is essential for a healthy diet. But if your kidneys are not working normally, eating foods high in protein can strain them. You may need to eat small portions of different types of protein.
ONLY
In some people, too much salt can increase blood pressure and accelerate kidney damage. It can also lead to kidney stones, which can cause nausea, severe pain, and difficulty urinating.
CIGARETTES
Not only can it worsen high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes (the two leading causes of kidney disease), but it can also affect the medications used to treat them. It also slows blood flow to the kidneys and can cause kidney problems in people who already have kidney disease.
ALCOHOL
Chronic heavy drinkers may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease. A single binge session (more than four or five drinks in less than 2 hours) rarely leads to acute kidney injury, and when it does, people usually don’t need dialysis.
ACIDIC BEVERAGES WITH SUGAR
If you drink two or more diet sodas a day, you may be more likely to develop kidney disease. In one study, the kidneys of women who drank diet soda worked 30% less than other women after 20 years. Also, drinking sugary drinks, including juice and soda, can increase the risk of kidney disease.
DEHYDRATION
Your kidneys need water to function properly. Not getting enough water – especially if it happens often – can cause kidney damage. How do you know you are drinking what you need? Your urine should be light yellow or white.
PAIN RELIEF
Over-the-counter pain relievers (acetaminophen, aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen) or the prescription NSAID Celebrex (celecoxib) can damage your kidneys when taken regularly.
Extreme exercise
Working hard for too long can cause rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which damaged muscle tissue breaks down too quickly. This removes substances from your blood that can damage your kidneys and cause them to fail.
Steroids
Some people take anabolic steroids to gain extreme muscle. But they can damage the part of your kidney that filters your blood. This can cause your body to swell, causing you to lose protein in your blood and have high cholesterol.
DRUGS FOR SALE
Medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which reduce stomach acid, can cause kidney damage if taken for a long time. Some research suggests that taking too many PPIs may increase your chances of developing long-term kidney disease.
STREP THROAT
When you have this infection, your body produces proteins called antibodies to fight it. Excess can settle in the filter parts of your kidneys and inflame them. It usually doesn’t last long, but for some people, kidney damage can be permanent.