- Before reading this article, I sincerely invite you to click "Follow", which is not only convenient for you to discuss and share, but also brings you a different sense of participation, thank you for your support
"You always feel soreness and pain all over your body during this time, and you should do a detailed examination immediately." This is what the doctor Li Zhengguo said when he saw Wang Zhiqiang for the first time. Wang Zhiqiang, an ordinary office worker in his early thirties, works as a planner in a small advertising agency. In recent months, he has been feeling that something is wrong with his body, especially after each day at work, and he always feels soreness all over his body, especially in his lower back.
Wang Zhiqiang then came to the hospital and met Dr. Li. Dr. Lee is an internal medicine specialist with more than 20 years of clinical experience and is known for his wealth of knowledge and humorous style. Wang Zhiqiang sat in the consultation room with a hint of apprehension, waiting for Dr. Li to give him a clear answer.
After a series of examinations, Dr. Li found some abnormalities in Wang Zhiqiang's ultrasound images of his kidneys. Further CT scans showed that Wang Zhiqiang's left kidney had severe atrophy and had almost lost its function. This made Wang Zhiqiang surprised: "Doctor, can I still live?" Will there be a big problem with my body? ”
Dr. Li smiled, patted Wang Zhiqiang on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, without a kidney, you can still live a normal life." But there are a few things to be aware of. In fact, humans have two kidneys, but a healthy kidney does all the filtering functions of the body. ”
Wang Zhiqiang breathed a sigh of relief, but he still couldn't help asking: "Then can I still have children?" ”
Dr. Li nodded: "Of course you can, but you have to pay attention, this still has some effect on the body." Let me explain it to you in detail. ”
1. The impact on the body
1. Increased burden on the kidneys
Dr Lee explained that a kidney that takes on twice the workload naturally increases its burden. Normally, the two kidneys share the body's task of excreting metabolic waste and toxins. When there is only one kidney, this kidney has to do all the work, which can lead to premature aging or decreased function.
Dr. Lee mentioned a study that showed that kidney function is very compensatory in the case of only one kidney, but in the long run, there is still a 20%-30% chance of developing kidney insufficiency.
2. Risk of elevated blood pressure
Since the kidneys play an important role in regulating blood pressure, people with only one kidney may be more likely to have high blood pressure problems. "Studies have found that about 50% of patients with a single kidney develop some degree of hypertension within five years. This is because the kidneys also regulate the sodium and water in the blood as they filter the blood, which can increase blood pressure if the kidneys are impaired. ”
3. Restrictions on exercise and exertion
Wong Chi Keung originally enjoyed playing basketball, but Dr. Li reminded him to moderate the need to reduce strenuous exercise, especially those that tend to have an impact on the kidneys. Dr. Lee recounted a case of a young man who insisted on playing basketball despite having only one kidney, but was eventually forced to undergo surgery due to kidney damage caused by an impact.
4. Fertility effects
Although having only one kidney does not directly affect fertility, Dr Lee points out that renal insufficiency may indirectly affect fertility. This is because kidney dysfunction can affect the body's hormone levels, which in turn can affect fertility. He further explains: "Although uncommon, studies have shown that about 10%-15% of men with renal insufficiency have some problems with fertility. ”
2. Specific health recommendations
Dr. Li then gave Wong some specific health advice:
1. Regular medical check-ups
Wang Zhiqiang needs to have a comprehensive physical examination every six months, especially the test of kidney function. This includes blood tests, urinalysis, and imaging tests, among others. "Early detection of kidney function problems can lead to a number of measures that can be taken to delay their progression. ”
2. Eat a healthy diet
Dr Lee advises Wong to pay special attention to his diet. A diet high in salt, fat, and protein can all increase the burden on the kidneys. He advised Wang Zhiqiang to choose a diet low in salt, fat and moderate protein, and increase the intake of fruits and vegetables.
3. Reasonable lifestyle
Dr. Li also advised Wang Zhiqiang to maintain a reasonable lifestyle, avoid overwork and staying up late, and maintain adequate sleep and moderate exercise. At the same time, he also advised Wang Zhiqiang to quit smoking and drinking, because these habits can cause adverse effects on the kidneys.
4. Monitor your blood pressure
Wang Zhiqiang needs to monitor his blood pressure regularly to keep it within the normal range. If high blood pressure is found, measures should be taken to control it in time. Dr. Lee also advised him to keep a blood pressure monitor at home to monitor his blood pressure at all times.
3. Real patient cases
In order to give Wang Zhiqiang a better understanding, Dr. Li also talked about several real patient cases.
Case 1: Xiao Li, a 28-year-old young man who lost a kidney in an accident while in college. Under the advice of his doctor, Xiao Li has always maintained a healthy lifestyle and has regular physical examinations every year. Still, five years later, he was diagnosed with high blood pressure. After medication and dietary adjustment, Xiao Li's blood pressure was effectively controlled, and his kidney function did not deteriorate further.
Case 2: Lao Zhang, Lao Zhang is a 45-year-old middle-aged man, due to long-term drinking and unhealthy lifestyle, his kidney function gradually declined, and eventually only one kidney was left to work normally. Ignoring the doctor's advice, Lao Zhang continued to maintain an unhealthy lifestyle, resulting in severe kidney failure three years later and had to undergo dialysis treatment.
Case 3: Ah Wah, Ah Wah, a 35-year-old company employee, was born with only one kidney due to genetic reasons. Ah Hua strictly follows the doctor's advice, maintains a healthy diet and a regular lifestyle, and has regular check-ups every year. Despite having only one kidney, Ah Wah has maintained good health and even gave birth to a healthy baby last year.
Fourth, the end and new questions
Dr. Li's explanations and advice reassured Wong a lot, and he decided to follow the doctor's advice to adjust his lifestyle and have regular check-ups. However, Wang Zhiqiang still has a question in his mind: "Doctor, if I only have one kidney and I have renal insufficiency, will it affect my lifespan?" ”
Dr. Lee smiled and replied, "This is indeed a very important question. If the function of one kidney is affected, but with effective treatment and lifestyle modifications, it is still possible to prolong life. Studies have shown that patients with a single kidney do not have a significantly shorter lifespan when they maintain good health management. However, if you don't pay attention to controlling your blood pressure and protecting your kidneys, you may increase the risk of complications that can affect your lifespan. ”
Dr. Lee concludes, "The key is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, have regular check-ups, and identify and treat problems in a timely manner. In this way, you can live a life that is no different from ordinary people, and even have the next generation without a problem. ”
After listening to Dr. Li's words, Wang Zhiqiang became more confident and decided to take good care of his body from today and no longer let himself fall into health troubles. As Dr. Lee said, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and regular health check-ups is the most important thing.
What do you have to say about this? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!