Zhang Qiang (not his real name), a burly fitness fanatic, is passionate about pushing the limits, but recently he found himself feeling overwhelmed after intense training, and even seemed a little weak in his married life.
Li Ming (pseudonym), although he is also physically strong, has completely different living habits: he never leaves his cigarette all year round, and often holds urine between work, but despite this, he boasts of regular work and rest as a "shield" for his health.
"Lao Li, how did you say that my kidney deficiency came about?" Zhang Qiang (pseudonym) gasped and asked Li Ming (pseudonym) after a set of squats, "I practice five times a week and eat healthy, why do I still feel like I have been hollowed out?"
Li Ming (pseudonym) put down the dumbbell in his hand, a sly smile hooked up at the corner of his mouth, and replied while lighting a cigarette: "Can your kidneys be good for those bad habits?"
Zhang Qiang (pseudonym) frowned and retorted, "The doctor said that these habits are not damaging to the kidneys. The two men argued and argued, and their dialogue was like a mirror that reflected the reality that many modern men vacillate between the pursuit of life satisfaction and health.
01. The importance of the kidneys
Purifier of the source of life: As the main excretory organ in the human body, the kidneys are responsible for filtering blood and removing metabolic waste and toxic substances from the body. It filters about 1 liter of blood per minute and processes twice the amount of fluid per day, ensuring a clean and stable internal environment.
Through the filtration of glomeruli, the kidneys separate the waste to form urine, which is finally excreted from the body, effectively preventing the toxic reaction caused by the accumulation of toxins.
Delicate regulators of fluid balance: The kidneys play a key role in maintaining the body's water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance. It can precisely adjust the concentration of urine, regulate the discharge of water according to the body's needs, and ensure stable blood volume;
By regulating the excretion and reabsorption of sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphorus, calcium and other ions, the electrolyte balance is maintained and the normal neuromuscular function is guaranteed. The kidneys can also regulate the pH of the blood through the excretion and reabsorption of acid-base substances and prevent various diseases caused by acid-base imbalance.
Guardian of blood pressure homeostasis: The kidneys participate in the process of regulating blood pressure, by secreting renin and activating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), affecting vasoconstriction and relaxation, and regulating the amount of blood pumped by the heart, thereby maintaining blood pressure stability.
The kidneys can also indirectly affect blood pressure by excreting sodium and potassium, regulating fluid volume, and so on. Sodium and water retention or abnormal renin secretion due to kidney disease is often one of the important causes of hypertension.
Behind Bone Health: Active vitamin D secreted by the kidneys helps in the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus, which is essential for maintaining bone health. When kidney function is impaired, the activation of vitamin D is blocked, which may lead to bone lesions such as osteoporosis and renal bone disease.
Endocrine function all-rounder: The kidney also has a variety of endocrine functions, such as secretion of renin, prostaglandins, kinins, etc., and participates in blood pressure regulation, water and salt balance, cardiovascular function and other physiological processes.
02. Three bad behaviors make the kidneys "depleted"
Intemperate marital life: Excessive sex can take a constant strain on the kidneys. Traditional Chinese medicine theories believe that frequent sexual activity will deplete a large amount of kidney essence, resulting in a loss of kidney qi, the so-called "kidney deficiency".
Modern medicine does not directly use the concept of "kidney deficiency", but excessive sex can lead to a range of problems related to kidney health. Overexertion can lead to weakened immunity, increase the risk of infections, including urinary tract infections, and indirectly impair kidney function.
Long-term intemperate sex may also be associated with increased psychological stress, decreased sleep quality, lifestyle disorders, etc., all of which may indirectly affect kidney health and aggravate the physiological stress on the kidneys.
Holding urine: Holding urine is a habit that is extremely detrimental to kidney health. Holding urine for a long time will make urine stay in the bladder for too long, and harmful substances such as bacteria and metabolites in urine are more likely to breed and retrograde into the kidneys, causing infectious diseases such as pyelonephritis.
Recurrent or severe pyelonephritis may lead not only to acute renal impairment, but also to chronic kidney disease in the long term. Holding urine can also lead to concentrated urine, which can lead to the precipitation of mineral crystals in the urine and the formation of stones.
Nephrolithiasis can not only cause pain, urinary tract obstruction, but also hydronephrosis in severe cases, and may cause irreversible damage to the structure and function of the kidneys if left untreated for a long time.
Increased intravesical pressure when holding urine may lead to reflux of urine into the renal pelvis, further increasing the risk of kidney infection and possibly causing direct harm to the renal tubules and interstitium.
Smoking: Long-term smoking can accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis and increase the risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, which are important causes of chronic kidney disease. Smoking is also strongly associated with the rate of progression of kidney disease, accelerating the rate of deterioration in patients with pre-existing kidney disease and increasing the risk of end-stage renal disease.
03. Recommendations to protect the kidneys
Moderate sexual life: Maintain a moderate and regular sexual life according to the individual's constitution and age. Avoid excessive indulgence, take adequate rest before and after sex, and maintain a good mental state.
Urinate in a timely manner: Develop the habit of urinating regularly and avoid holding urine for long periods of time. In particular, before going to bed, in the morning, after meals and between work, you should take the initiative to go to the toilet to urinate, and even if the urge to urinate is not strong, you should empty the bladder appropriately to reduce the time that urine stays in the bladder and reduce the risk of infection.
Quit smoking and limit alcohol: Quit smoking habits and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. The damage to the kidneys caused by the harmful substances in tobacco is cumulative, and the sooner you quit smoking, the greater the benefits for the kidneys. Limit alcohol consumption and avoid binge drinking. Alcohol can directly damage kidney cells, and in patients with pre-existing kidney disease, alcohol should be severely limited or completely avoided.
Drink plenty of fluids: Maintaining adequate daily water intake can help dilute urine, prevent urinary tract stones from forming, and help the kidneys excrete waste.
Regular exercise: Regular aerobic exercise can help control weight, lower blood pressure, improve blood lipids, and prevent chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, which are important risk factors for kidney disease.
Everyone is the first person responsible for their own kidney health, and should fully realize the importance of kidney health care, take active actions, and effectively prevent the occurrence of kidney disease and maintain the stability of kidney function through scientific lifestyle adjustment.
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