Expert of this article: Li Tian, chief physician of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
As we all know, the kidney is the "purification factory" of the human body, and its main function is to purify the blood and excrete urine, but also to regulate blood pressure, water, electrolytes and acid-base balance and maintain a stable environment in the body. In addition, the kidneys can also synthesize substances such as erythropoietin and active vitamin D, regulate red blood cell formation and promote hematopoiesis, calcium and phosphorus metabolism, etc.
The kidneys have so many important functions, but few people know how to protect the kidneys in life, and the manifestations of chronic kidney disease. Let's take a look.
Chronic kidney disease, how much do you know
Chronic kidney disease (CKD), known as the "silent killer", is a common disease in China and even the world, and it is also a major public health problem that threatens human health after tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and diabetes. Chronic kidney disease seriously affects the quality of life of patients and their families, increasing the burden on families and society.
According to the latest research data of The Lancet, there are currently 132.3 million patients with chronic kidney disease in China, with a prevalence rate of 10.8%, that is, 1 in 10 adults has chronic kidney disease, but the awareness rate is only 12.5%. The mortality rate from chronic kidney disease is rising year by year, and scientists predict that by 2040, chronic kidney disease will become the fifth leading cause of death in the world.
Most patients with chronic kidney have early symptoms that are insidious, often have no specific clinical manifestations, and are easily overlooked. This is also one of the reasons why chronic kidney disease has a low rate of medical attention and is prone to progression to uremia. Therefore, attention should be paid to the early diagnosis and prevention of chronic kidney disease.
Image credit: 123RF
What are the manifestations of early chronic kidney disease?
1. Edema
The kidneys have a filter function, when the renal insufficiency occurs, it is easy to cause water and sodium retention, which can cause eyelid (especially morning eyelid edema), ankle or sacral tail edema, and the depression cannot be restored immediately after compression.
2. High blood pressure
Hypertension is a common symptom of chronic kidney disease and an important factor in the exacerbation of kidney disease. In young people without a family history of hypertension, if there is an unexplained increase in blood pressure, they should be alerted to kidney disease.
3. Abnormal urine output
Adult 24-hour urine output is about 1000 to 2000 ml, less than 400 ml is called oliguria, less than 100 ml is called anuria. The amount of urine per day and night exceeds 2500 ml is called polyuria. Increased nocturia is also a signal of the arrival of kidney disease, and if nocturia exceeds 3 times and the amount of urine at night is greater than during the day, it is likely to indicate early manifestations of renal insufficiency.
4. Abnormal nature of the urine
Urinary microalbumin is an early sign of chronic kidney disease, while persistent microalbuminuria or proteinuria suggests renal injury. Foamy urine can occur when there is increased protein or urine sugar in the urine, and there are many fine foams floating on the surface of the urine, which last for a long time. Urinary frequency is frequent, but the amount of urine each time is very small, can not hold the urine, accompanied by painful urination, more common urinary tract infections. When the color of the urine is like strong tea, meat washing water or soy sauce color, etc., it means that there may be red blood cells in it, and it is necessary to pay attention to the possibility of kidney disease.
5. Anemia
When there is more than moderate chronic renal insufficiency, it can cause decreased renal secretion of erythropoietin, resulting in anemia, accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, or pallor.
6. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
Patients who progress to the end-stage of chronic renal failure often have gastrointestinal dysfunction characterized by dysphoria, nausea, bad breath (ammonia odor), and itchy skin.
7. Low back pain
When there is no clear cause of low back pain, etc., it is necessary to be alert to the possibility of early kidney disease.
People at high risk of chronic kidney disease
Diabetic patients with diabetes who have been ill for a long time and have poor long-term blood glucose control; hypertensive patients with long-term poor blood pressure control; patients with metabolic diseases such as obesity, hyperlipidemia or high uric acid; people with a family history of kidney disease, such as patients with polycystic kidneys in immediate family members; people who have long-term use of nephrotoxic drugs; and elderly people over 65 years old are all at high risk of chronic kidney disease.
How to prevent chronic kidney disease
Drink plenty of water appropriately. Increasing the amount of urine and diluting the urine can reduce the concentration of drugs and metabolic waste products (such as uric acid) in the kidneys and remove sodium and urea from the body in time, thereby reducing the risk of harming the kidneys.
Drink less carbonated and functional drinks. Because the sugar, phosphate and caffeine in carbonated drinks will promote calcium excretion, with too high calcium content in the urine, it is easy to form stones and damage the kidneys.
Avoid holding back urine. Urinate regularly, excrete waste products and toxins from the body, and reduce the chance of bacteria breeding in the urine.
Avoid staying up late, live regularly, and ensure sleep. Because staying up late will affect the rest of the kidneys and the normal operation of the kidneys, resulting in poor drainage of toxins and then damage to the kidneys.
High-quality protein, low salt, low fat, low purine, low sugar and other diets. Pay attention to balanced nutrition, eat more cereals, fresh vegetables and fruits, milk and beans, etc., and maintain a diet with less salt (no more than 6 g per day) and low fat (50 g per day), which helps to reduce the burden on the kidneys and reduce the damage to the kidneys such as diabetes and hypertension.
Control your weight and stay in a good mood. Proper exercise is conducive to accelerating the discharge of toxins by the kidneys and enhancing physical fitness and body immunity.
Controls blood sugar and blood pressure. For high-risk groups with a family history of obesity and diabetes, blood glucose should be measured regularly; blood pressure should be monitored to reduce hypertension damage to the kidney as a target organ, therefore, for patients with hypertension, blood pressure should be regularly monitored to avoid violent fluctuations in blood pressure; control of blood lipids and uric acid.
Avoid substance abuse. Chinese herbal medicines containing aristolochic acid, some painkillers and antibiotics are nephrotoxic drugs, so when using drugs, as far as possible under the guidance of doctors, do not eat medicines, especially pay attention to "health care products" or folk remedies, secret recipes to take, while avoiding emergency medical treatment.
Stay away from alcohol and tobacco. Because toxic substances such as nicotine and heavy metal elements such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and other heavy metal elements in tobacco will directly damage kidney cells, change the function of renal tubules, slow down the rate of renal blood perfusion, affect the normal operation of the kidneys, etc., regular drinking will promote the development of hyperuricemia and increase the burden of kidney excretion of uric acid.
In summary, developing good living habits can prevent the progression of the disease. Healthy people over the age of 40 are best to have regular physical examinations, paying attention to the urine routine (preferably to leave morning urine), kidney function and kidney ultrasound.
In fact, it is not difficult to detect kidney disease. If the above early symptoms appear and are accompanied by one or more high-risk factors, you should go to a regular hospital for examination and scientific treatment as soon as possible, so as to avoid causing greater damage to kidney health to the greatest extent, so as to achieve early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment.
Disclaimer: WuXi AppTec's content team focuses on the global biomedical health research process. This article is for informational purposes only and the views expressed herein do not represent the position of WuXi AppTec, nor do they represent WuXi AppTec's support for or opposition to the views expressed herein. This article is also not recommended for treatment options. For guidance on treatment options, please visit a regular hospital.
Share, like, watch, pass on new medical knowledge