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In this era of healthy living, many people are trying to maintain their health, exercising regularly and eating a reasonable diet, hoping to live longer.
Just last month, a seemingly healthy 56-year-old woman, Ms. Chen Hui (not her real name), suddenly passed away from kidney failure, leaving her family and friends deeply shocked and saddened.
Background to an unexpected death
Ms. Chen Hui has always paid great attention to health, insisting on running in the morning every day, and eating a light diet. Her blood sugar has been well controlled and she has never had diabetes.
But how could such a seemingly healthy person suddenly die of kidney failure? The hidden reason behind this cannot be explained in a few words.
The kidneys are very important organs in our body, which are not only responsible for removing waste and excess water from the blood, but also help regulate blood pressure, maintain electrolyte balance, make red blood cells, and other functions.
Once kidney function is impaired, these toxins and waste products accumulate in the body, which can eventually lead to the failure of multiple organs throughout the body.
The importance of kidney health
The health of the kidneys is vital for everyone. But many times, people are not particularly sensitive to the early symptoms of kidney disease, such as mild fatigue, occasional low back pain, or frequent waking up at night, which can easily be overlooked or mistaken for work stress and lack of rest.
By the time there is significant edema, decreased urine output, or abnormal urine color, it is likely that the kidneys have been severely damaged. Prevention is more important than cure to understand what factors affect kidney health.
High-risk foods and lifestyle habits
Certain high-risk foods in the daily diet are the invisible killers of kidney disease occurrence. Although animal offal is rich in nutrients, it is also a source of high purine content, and excessive consumption can easily lead to an increase in blood uric acid and increase the burden on the kidneys.
Processed meats such as sausages and ham are high in salt and preservatives, and long-term consumption can also put a lot of stress on the kidneys.
Another one that is often overlooked is high-sugar drinks. Even with good blood sugar control, frequent intake of high-sugar beverages can quietly damage the health of the kidneys.
Bad habits such as smoking and over-medication, especially over-the-counter pain relievers, can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys.
Although Ms. Chen Hui is quite careful about her diet, she is not sufficiently alert to these seemingly harmless habits, which may also be a hidden factor in her kidney failure.
In our daily life, there are many behaviors that seem harmless, but are actually potentially harmful to the kidneys, such as working in a high-pressure environment for a long time, lack of sleep, etc. Although these factors do not immediately affect kidney health, the damage to the kidneys is difficult to see with the naked eye over time.
Early identification and prevention of kidney disease
Early detection of kidney disease is crucial because early intervention can significantly delay the progression of the disease. Common early symptoms include, but are not limited to, proteinuria, hematuria, and hypertension.
Proteinuria is an alarm for kidney health, meaning that the kidneys' filtering function is impaired and they are unable to stop the loss of protein. Hematuria may be a direct manifestation of kidney or other urinary disorders.
Hypertension is not only a risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, but also an early sign of renal insufficiency.
In terms of preventive measures, regular medical check-ups are key. Physical examination can detect problems early through urine routine, blood routine, renal function test and other means.
Maintaining a sensible diet, reducing salt intake, and increasing water intake are all simple and effective ways to protect your kidneys.
The impact of lifestyle on kidney health
A healthy lifestyle is essential for keeping your kidneys healthy. Moderate physical activity can strengthen physical fitness, improve blood circulation, and help reduce the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which are major contributors to kidney disease.
Excessive strenuous exercise can put a strain on the kidneys, so it's important to choose one that suits your physical condition.
A good night's sleep is also essential, and adequate sleep helps in the recovery and repair of various systems in the body. Sleep deprivation is associated with a variety of health problems, including those that can affect kidney health.
Manage chronic diseases to protect the kidneys
For those with pre-existing chronic conditions, proper management of these conditions is key to protecting the kidneys. Diabetic patients need to strictly control their blood sugar levels, because high blood sugar causes long-term damage to the microvasculature of the kidneys and is a common cause of kidney disease.
Patients with high blood pressure also need to control their blood pressure through medication and lifestyle modifications to prevent physical damage to the kidneys caused by high-pressure blood flow.
It is also important to avoid long-term use of drugs that are toxic to the kidneys, especially some over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and aspirin. While these medications are effective in relieving pain, excessive or long-term use can damage kidney tissue.
Through these methods, we are not only able to effectively prevent the occurrence of kidney disease, but also intervene at an early stage of the disease, so as to avoid the deterioration of the disease and maintain the overall health of the body.
The maintenance of kidney health is not only based on medical measures, but also on the details of our daily life. Eating a healthy diet, exercising, having a regular schedule, avoiding unnecessary medications, and having regular check-ups are just some of the small things that seem like a common thing to protect your kidneys from damage.
Finally, do you have any experiences and opinions that you would like to share?