The functions of the kidneys are numerous, but here are eight essential tasks that you need to know. If your kidneys stop working correctly, it could lead to serious health complications and even death.

A study was recently done on the link between alcohol and kidney disease symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the way in which heavy drinkers are more likely to develop kidney diseases than non-heavy drinkers, along with how moderate drinking is also linked with higher risks for developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). The researchers for this study were from Queen Mary University of London.

What Is a Kidney, and How Does It Work?

The kidney has numerous vital functions in the human body. For example, it produces urine which helps control blood pressure by regulating sodium levels and removing waste products from your diet like urea – all without medication! 

The Kidneys can be damaged over time, but there are ways to help protect them against some common diseases such as diabetes or high cholesterol that might cause injury if not appropriately treated with medicine prescribed by your physician; luckily, we now have technologies like intervention stemming directly off these findings, so you don’t need clinical trials anymore!”

A pair of bean-shaped organs work in tandem to balance fluid volume and salt intake.

The functions of the kidneys include:

1. The kidneys regulate the quantity of extracellular fluid. The kidneys work to ensure an adequate amount of plasma is available so that blood may flow to vital organs.
2. Osmolarity regulation. The kidneys assist in maintaining the extracellular fluid at a proper level of dilution or concentration for the solutes carried in the liquid.
3. The regulation of ion concentrations is one of the primary purposes. The kidneys maintain steady levels of several ions, including sodium, potassium, and calcium.
4. The pH of the body’s fluids is maintained at a constant level. The kidneys control ions in blood plasma to keep it from becoming excessively acidic or basic.
5. Excretion of waste and poisons. The kidneys filter out various water-soluble pollutants and environmental toxins from the urine for elimination.
6. Hormone production. The kidneys generate erythropoietin, which promotes the formation of red blood cells, and renin, which helps maintain salt and water balance and blood pressure. They are also involved in regulating plasma calcium and sugar levels.

Kidney Diseases

Because of the numerous function, the kidneys execute and the pollutants they encounter, they are vulnerable to various diseases.

Some of these diseases are:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a disease that causes the kidneys to progressively and irreversibly deteriorate. 
• When you can no longer remove waste from your blood, your kidneys have failed.
• Renal calculi, often known as kidney stones, are solid masses composed of crystals. The majority of kidney stones form in your kidneys.
• glomeruli – an inflammation of the kidney structures consisting of tiny blood vessels. These knots of vessels help filter your blood and remove excess fluids. If your glomeruli are damaged, your kidneys will stop working correctly, and you can go into kidney failure.
• When your kidneys become inflamed suddenly, you get acute nephritis. Acute nephritis has several causes and, if left untreated, might result in kidney failure. Previously, this disease was known as Bright’s disease.
• Cysts in the kidneys are caused by congenital cyst disease (GCD). PKD may compromise kidney function and eventually lead to kidney failure. They are causing fluid-filled cysts to form in the kidneys.
• Microbes are the cause of a urinary tract infection (UTI). These are tiny organisms that cannot be seen without a microscope. UTI’S most common cause is Bacteria buildup; fungi and viruses have been known to cause them as well. UTIs affect around 100 million people worldwide each year.
• Caliectasis is a kidney disease in which the calyces of your kidneys are damaged. The beginning of urine collection is at the calyces of your kidneys. Each kidney has six to ten calyces located on the outer edges of the organ.
• Acidosis is a condition in which the fluids in your body have an excessive amount of acid. When pH levels in your kidneys and lungs cannot keep balanced, you have acidosis. Acid is created by many of the body’s processes. Your lungs and kidneys can usually handle modest pH variations, but issues with these organs might cause over.
• When your kidneys are damaged, uremia occurs. Your kidneys usually excrete the pollutants or waste products instead of entering your circulation. These poisons are known as creatinine and urea. Uremia is a severe illness that can be fatal if left untreated. Uremia is one of the most common symptoms of renal failure.
• Hydronephrosis isn’t a disease in and of itself. It’s a secondary problem that develops due to another underlying illness.
• Pyelonephritis is an acute form of kidney inflammation. It causes the kidneys to fill up and can cause them to be permanently damaged. Pyelonephritis may be fatal if left untreated.
• A kidney cyst is a soft, bean-shaped sac that forms in one of your kidneys and removes pollutants from your circulation. You could have single or multiple kidney cysts.
• When your kidneys are injured, they release too much protein into your urine, causing nephrotic syndrome. This condition isn’t considered a disease in and of itself. Damage to your kidneys’ blood vessels causes this syndrome.
• Azotemia is a disease or injury that has damaged your kidneys. It develops when your kidneys can no longer eliminate sufficient nitrogen waste. Your BUN and creatinine levels will be assessed using these blood tests.

Must Read: Alcohol and Ibuprofen

There are different types of kidney failure.

There are several types of kidney failure. Your kidneys may suddenly stop functioning correctly, resulting in acute kidney failure. Chronic kidney disease is a long-term illness.

The five types of kidney failure are:

• Acute prerenal kidney failure. Blood flow to the kidneys may be insufficient because of its lack. The kidneys can’t filter poisons from the blood unless adequate blood flow. Once the decreased blood flow source is discovered, this form of kidney failure usually goes away.
• Acute kidney failure is not due to acute tubular necrosis. Acute intrinsic kidney failure can be caused by physical force or an accident and toxin overload, and ischemia (a lack of oxygen to the kidneys).
• Ischemia can also be induced by severe bleeding, shock, obstruction of the renal blood vessel, and glomerulonephritis (called glomeruli, inflammation of the tiny filters in your kidneys).
• Chronic prerenal kidney failure is a progressive disease that causes your kidneys to deteriorate until they no longer function gradually.
• Chronic intrinsic kidney failure. Due to inherent kidney disease, long-term kidney damage leads to this condition. Intrinsic kidney disease is caused by direct kidney injuries, such as severe bleeding or oxygen deprivation.
• Chronic kidney failure after renal transplantation. Urination is prevented by a long-term obstructive disease of the urinary tract. This causes pressure and, eventually, kidney damage due to the increased pressure in your bladder.

Alcohol abuse is a significant cause of kidney failure.

Your kidneys remove harmful chemicals from your blood. Alcohol is one of these substances. Alcohol can alter kidney function and make them less efficient in filtering your blood. Your kidneys perform a variety of vital tasks in addition to filtering blood. Maintaining the proper amount of water within your body is one of them. Alcohol’s drying (desiccation) effects can lead to a decreased intake of water, which in turn may reduce the volume and concentrate urine. Alcohol also increases urine production by interfering with the release of ADH (antidiuretic hormone).

Drinks containing tequila not only have a high amount of alcohol but it is also detrimental to your blood pressure. Excess alcohol consumption raises the risk of high blood pressure. Alcohol has been shown to reduce the effectiveness of hypertension medications. 

The primary risk factor for kidney disease is High blood pressure, and excessive drinking can contribute to it. Men should not exceed two alcoholic beverages daily, while women should not exceed one drink per day.

Chronic drinking can also damage the liver. This extends the role of the kidneys. Because your kidneys need to filter blood effectively, their blood flow rate is usually kept at a specific level. Liver disease inhibits this essential dance between your liver and kidneys. Most patients with liver disease and kidney malfunction in the United States are alcoholics.

Why Do Drugs Damage the Kidneys?

Drugs can damage the kidneys in several ways. Some medications, such as painkillers and antibiotics, can cause direct injury to the kidneys. Other drugs increase the risk of developing kidney disease by damaging the liver. The increased workload on the kidneys caused by impaired liver function forces them to work harder and eventually kidney failure.

Dialysis or kidney transplant is needed to keep you alive when the kidneys can no longer function. Dialysis artificially performs many of the functions of healthy kidneys. During Dialysis, blood is removed from your body, cleaned with a machine, and returned to your body. A kidney transplant replaces a diseased kidney with a healthy kidney from a donor.

Many people with kidney failure do not require Dialysis or a transplant if they make lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, moderating their alcohol intake, and controlling their blood pressure and diabetes.

Treatments for kidney failure.

When your kidneys fail, it indicates that they cannot adequately sustain life. Many individuals live productive and enjoyable lives on Dialysis or with a kidney transplant. Depending on your circumstances, your doctor can assist you in determining which treatment is ideal for you.

The most common therapies for kidney failure include:

Dialysis

The process of Dialysis removes waste and extra fluids from your blood. It, however, can’t perform all that a healthy kidney can. This implies that you may develop some of the signs and symptoms of kidney failure despite being on Dialysis.

• One type of treatment for kidney failure is hemodialysis, or “hemo” for short. This procedure uses a machine to cleanse your blood. It is done at a dialysis center or home. Find out more about in-center hemodialysis and home hemodialysis.
• Peritoneal Dialysis is a procedure in which your blood is cleansed by using the peritoneum (lining of the abdomen or belly) and a cleaning solution called dialysate. If you have access to a private, clean place, peritoneal Dialysis may be done at home or even at work.

Transplant

A kidney transplant replaces a damaged kidney with an intact one from another person’s body. A kidney transplant may be performed through a living or dead donor. The kidneys could previously fulfill the same functions as yours did now when they were healthy.

Medical management

You may choose not to undergo dialysis or a transplant. If you do not want to go through dialysis or receive a transplant, medical management is a therapy plan that can help you live comfortably. At the same time, your body continues to function normally. 

How to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy?

You may do a lot to maintain your kidneys healthy. Drinking lots of water, eating a nutritious diet, and exercising regularly are simple methods. Also, avoid excessive drinking of alcohol and taking drugs if you have high blood pressure or diabetes. It is critical to control your blood pressure and sugar levels if you have high blood pressure or diabetes.

Chronic kidney diseases are more common in certain groups of people, such as those over the age of 60 who do not smoke, and more common among those with a family history of kidney disease and individuals who suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes. If you fit into one or more categories that put you at an increased risk for kidney disease, see your doctor regularly for a checkup.

Here are some of the functions that kidneys carry out for you to remain healthy:

• Maintain blood pressure by removing excess fluid from the body and balancing electrolytes such as sodium and potassium
• Balance red blood cells by ridding them of waste products
• Produce erythropoietin, which helps to create red blood cells
• Regulate calcium and phosphorus levels in the body
• Activate vitamin D so that it can help absorb calcium from food
• Detoxify the blood by removing waste products and drugs from the body
• Control fluid balance in the body

Kidneys that are in good working order are essential for your general health. Early detection of kidney disease might be lifesaving. Medication, modifications to lifestyle, and an early referral to a kidney specialist can help prevent or delay kidney failure.

Ref: https://academic.oup.com/ndt/article-abstract/25/10/3301/1871934

Fred Strahl