The importance of kidneys
The kidneys are the most important organs of the body, as they serve many purposes, and perhaps the most important function of kidneys is to rid the body of waste through urine.
Kidney functions
The two kidneys are many functions in terms of activity. Some of their most important activities are:
- Maintain balance of water and minerals in the blood , Including sodium and potassium.
- Disposal of waste : There are many substances that the body wants to get out of it, the kidneys are the elimination of toxic substances and excess salts and urea, which is a nitrogen-based waste produced by the metabolism of cells. Urea is made in the liver and transmitted through the blood to the kidneys to get rid of them.
- Balance water levels : Calcitans are the most important members of the chemical analysis of urine; when access to water is less, the kidneys adapting accordingly to maintain water in the body rather than get rid of it.
- Regulation of blood pressure : The kidneys need constant pressure to be able to filter the blood, and when the pressure drops too much kidneys increase pressure. One way to do this is to produce angiotensin, a protein that narrows blood vessels, leading to high pressure, and sends signals to the body to retain water and sodium to maintain normal levels of blood pressure.
- Regulating the work of renin Renin is an enzyme that helps regulate blood pressure.
- Regulation of red blood cells : When the kidneys do not get enough oxygen, they send a letter to seek help from erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells that carry oxygen.
- Acid regulation : When the metabolism of cells produce acids, and to work the body properly, it needs to maintain a healthy balance of these chemicals, as well as to the kidneys.
- Formation of vitamin D In a way that bones need to maintain their health.
- As a result of all these functions of the kidneys and their toxic substances, they are susceptible to several illnesses.
Diseases affecting the kidney
There are various diseases that may affect the kidney, including renal colic, which begins with the formation of fine muscles that fall in the kidney pelvis contractions, in order to push urine during obstruction in the urethra, and the cause of this blockage is as follows:
- The presence of many salts has led to the obstruction of the urinary tract.
- The presence of real stones or narrowness in the urethra.
- Blood clotting.
- The presence of inflammation.
As for the symptoms of renal colic are acute pain and sudden felt by the patient suddenly, and in the form of consecutive attacks beginning in the side of the back and extends forward and down the abdomen, and can reach the pain to the genitals and the groin, and can accompany this feeling of vomiting and burning in the urine with Frequent urination but in small amounts may be accompanied by blood.
Renal pain is caused by increased pressure on the kidney pelvis where the urine accumulates, increasing the pressure on the outer capsule of the kidney and thus causing pain to the patient. Usually the blockage is incomplete or chronic, so the pain is milder than the renal colic.
It is worth mentioning that the type of foods that are taken and that contain large amounts of salts lead to the incidence of renal colic in some people, not all; some people when eating foods containing high amounts of oxalate salts that come out in the urine and increase the proportion lead to renal colic . Of the types of salts that lead to deposition in the renal tissue causing inflammation and the stones of the salts of uric acid. Also, food rich in uric acid is one of the causes of renal pain.
Ways to maintain kidneys
Kidney disease can be prevented by following things that can be summarized as follows: [7]
- Drink adequate and moderate amounts of water during the day.
- Minimize foods containing salts.
- Do not over-take over-the-counter medications.
Tips to maintain kidney health
Tips that help maintain kidney health include:
- Eat a healthy diet for both kidneys by reducing salt, avoiding processed foods, and choosing fresh fruits and vegetables. It is also recommended to reduce foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol.
- Preserving blood pressure at normal levels, using medicines prescribed by the doctor, not to overuse salt and fluids as they accumulate in the body and raise blood pressure.
- Preserving moderate levels of blood sugar in diabetics, because increasing it leads to several problems, including diabetes kidney disease.