What is the first main symptom of kidney damage?


In the early stages of kidney damage, individuals may not experience noticeable symptoms. Kidney disease can progress silently, and symptoms may only become apparent as the condition progresses.

Chronic kidney disease, also called chronic kidney failure, involves a gradual loss of kidney function. Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then removed in your urine. Advanced chronic kidney disease can cause dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes to build up in your body.

In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, you might have few signs or symptoms. You might not realize that you have kidney disease until the condition is advanced.

Treatment for chronic kidney disease focuses on slowing the progression of kidney damage, usually by controlling the cause. But, even controlling the cause might not keep kidney damage from progressing. Chronic kidney disease can progress to end-stage kidney failure, which is fatal without artificial filtering (dialysis) or a kidney transplant.

However, one of the first main symptoms that may indicate kidney damage is often:

1. **Proteinuria:** – Presence of excess protein in the urine. Healthy kidneys filter waste products, including excess protein, from the blood. When the kidneys become damaged, they may allow protein to leak into the urine.

It is important to understand that proteinuria can be detected through a urine test and is not usually something you can see visually. Regular checkups with a health care professional and regular urine tests can help identify early signs of kidney damage.

As kidney disease progresses, other symptoms may emerge, including:

2. **Changes in urination:** – Increased or decreased frequency of urination. – Change in color of urine or appearing foamy.

3. **Swelling (Oedema):** – Swelling, especially around the feet, ankles or eyes. This may result from fluid retention due to poor kidney function.

4. **Fatigue:** – Generalized tiredness and weakness.

5. **High Blood Pressure:** – High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common complication of kidney disease and can develop or worsen.

6. **Back Pain:** – Pain in the lower back, especially around the kidney area.

It is important to note that these symptoms may also be associated with various other health conditions, and their presence does not necessarily indicate kidney damage. Regular health checkups including blood pressure measurement and urine tests are important for early detection of kidney-related problems.

If you have special concerns about your kidney health or notice any of these symptoms, it is advisable to consult a health care professional for a comprehensive evaluation and appropriate guidance. Early intervention can help slow the progression of kidney disease and improve outcomes.

From Kidney Damage To Cancer, A Nutritionist Explains How Excess Protein Intake Is Fatal


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The maxim ‘the more the better’ does not apply to proteins. Many aren’t aware of how much protein their bodies need. As a result, people consume arbitrary quantities of protein on a regular basis without considering their needs. A healthy adult requires 0.8 to 1 gram per kilogram of body weight. If you want to eat a lot of protein, follow these guidelines provided by Dr Eileen Canday, HOD – Nutrition and Dietetics, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai.

Proportions of protein consumption that can be risky

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Consuming more than double the recommended amount of proteins in a short span of time puts crucial organs at the danger of metabolising waste from the body’s system. 

Dr Canday explains, “There are serious risks associated with chronic protein overconsumption in individuals who already have a compromised organ function, including cardiovascular disease, blood vessel disorders and liver and kidney injuries. Excessive protein consumption could cause further damage to these organs and could be fatal. Overconsumption has also been linked to increased risk of complications in people with Type-2 diabetes. Over consumption of processed meats can lead to a higher risk of cancer.”

Side effects of excessive protein consumption

1. Weight gain

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Although high-protein diets promise to help you lose weight, if you consume more protein than your body type demands, the extra protein is stored as energy reserves, potentially leading to greater fat storage.

2. Kidney damage

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Patients who already have renal illness may be harmed by too much protein as it would exert extra pressure on organs to process the by-products of protein metabolism.

3. An increased risk of cancer

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Some high-protein diets, particularly those high in red meat-based protein, have been linked to an increased risk of a variety of health concerns, including cancer.

4. Calcium deficiency

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It was previously thought that consuming a high-protein, meat-based diet might cause calcium loss. This has previously been connected to poor bone health.

However, Dr Canday suggests that while avoiding overconsumption, be careful not to reduce your intake to the point where you risk deficiency and muscle mass loss. It’s critical to eat enough to meet one’s body needs for development and upkeep. 

She said, “If you suffer from any organ disorder such as compromised liver disease, kidney failure, diabetes, cancer or medical conditions that need close monitoring of your protein intake, consult a qualified dietician so that the amount of protein one is consuming can be accurately calculated and fine-tuned to your body’s needs.”

10 Common Habits That Seriously Damage Your Kidneys


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Our kidneys are super important for our health. They filter our blood, produce hormones, absorb minerals, produce urine, eliminate toxins, and neutralize acids. So as one of the most important organs in your body, your kidneys deserve some love.

Damage or steady decline of your kidneys can often go unnoticed for years as your kidneys can still do their job with as little as 20% of their capacity. Therefore kidney diseases are often referred to as “The Silent Diseases”. That’s why it is so important to take care of them before it is too late.

Here’s a list of 10 common habits that put a lot of pressure on your kidneys and can cause serious damage over time.

1.    Not Drinking Enough Water

Your kidney’s most important function is to filter blood and eliminate toxins and waste materials. When you don’t drink enough plain water during the day toxins and waste material start to accumulate and can cause severe damage to your body.

2.    Too Much Salt In Your Diet

Your body needs sodium or salt to work properly. Most people however consume too much salt which may raise blood pressure and put a lot of stress on the kidneys. As a good rule of thumb, no more than 5 grams of salt should be eaten on a daily basis.

3.    Frequently Delaying The Call Of Nature

Many of us ignore the urge to go because they are too busy or want to avoid public bathrooms. Retaining urine on a regular basis increases urine pressure and can lead to kidney failure, kidney stones, and incontinence. So listen to your body when nature calls.

4.    Kick The Sugar Habit

Scientific studies show that people who consume 2 or more sugary drinks a day are more likely to have protein in their urine. Having protein in your urine is an early sign your kidneys are not doing their job as they should.

5.    Vitamin And Mineral Deficiencies

Eating a clean, whole food diet full of fresh vegetables and fruits is important for your overall health and a good kidney function. Many deficiencies can increase the risk of kidney stones or kidney failure. Vitamin B6 and magnesium, for instance, are super important to reduce the risk of kidney stones.

An estimated 70 to 80 percent of Americans isn’t getting enough magnesium, so there may be a good chance that you are one of them. Click here to learn more about magnesium deficiencies.

6.    Too Much Animal Protein

Over consumption of protein, especially red meat, increases the metabolic load on your kidneys. So more protein in your diet means your kidneys have to work harder and this can lead to kidney damage or dysfunction over time.

7.    Sleep Deprivation

We have all heard how important it is to get a good night’s rest. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to many diseases and kidney diseases are also on the list. During the night your body repairs damaged kidney tissue, so give your body the time to heal and repair itself.

8.    Coffee Habit

Just as salt, caffeine can raise blood pressure and put extra stress on your kidneys. Over time excessive consumption of coffee can cause damage to your kidneys.

9.    Painkiller Abuse

Way too many people take painkillers for their small aches and pains, while there are many all-natural, safe remedies available. Excessive use or painkiller abuse can lead to severe damage of liver and kidneys.

10.  Alcohol Consumption

Although there is nothing wrong with enjoying a glass of wine or having a beer once in a while, most of us don’t stop after just one drink. Alcohol is actually a legal toxin that puts a lot of stress on our kidneys and liver.

To stay healthy and avoid kidney issues it is important to eat lots of fresh, whole foods and if you keep the above information in mind and avoid these common habits as much as possible, your kidneys will not be under constant stress and your body will thank you for that.

Top Ten Drugs That Cause Kidney Damage.


The damage to the kidneys can often be caused by the use of various drugs, so we tried to classify them today and reveal the top ten, at least according to types: antibiotic, analgesic, etc.

These are the top 10 drugs which damage kidneys:

  1. Antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, methicillin, sulfonamides.
  2. .Analgesics, like acetaminophen, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID): ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, etc.
  3. Antiviral drugs, such as indinavir and tenofovir, both used to treat HIV, and acyclovir (brand name Zovirax) which is used in the case of herpes infection.
  4. Anticonvulsants, like trimethadione (brand name Tridione), used to treat seizures and other conditions, and phenytoin (brand name Dilantin).
  5. COX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib (brand name Celebrex). Two drugs, rofecoxib (brand name Vioxx), and valdecoxib (brand name Bextra) have been withdrawn from the market due to cardiovascular toxicity. They fall into the special class of NSAID which were intended to be safer for the stomach, but pose the same threat as other NSAIDs for kidney damage.
  6. Chemotherapy drugs, like quinine, interferons, cisplatin, pamidronate, carboplatin, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, mitomycin C, bevacizumab; and anti-thyroid drugs, like propylthiouracil, used in the treatment of an overactive thyroid.
  7. High blood pressure drugs, including captopril (brand name Capoten).
  8. Heartburn drugs of the proton pump inhibitor class, such as pantoprazole (brand name Protonix), omeprazole (brand name Prilosec), esomeprazole (brand names Nexium, Esotrex), lansoprazole (brand name Prevacid), and rabeprazole (brand names Rabecid, Aciphex).
  9. Lithium, used in the treatment of bipolar disorders.
  10. Rheumatoid arthritis drugs, such as infliximab (brand name Remicade); hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, used in the treatment of malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

10 Common Habits That Seriously Damage Your Kidneys


Our kidneys are super important for our health. They filter our blood, produce hormones, absorb minerals, produce urine, eliminate toxins, and neutralize acids. So as one of the most important organs in your body, your kidneys deserve some love.

image

Damage or steady decline of your kidneys can often go unnoticed for years as your kidneys can still do their job with as little as 20% of their capacity. Therefore kidney diseases are often referred to as “The Silent Diseases”. That’s why it is so important to take care of them before it is too late.

Here’s a list of 10 common habits that put a lot of pressure on your kidneys and can cause serious damage over time.

1.    Not Drinking Enough Water

Your kidney’s most important function is to filter blood and eliminate toxins and waste materials. When you don’t drink enough plain water during the day toxins and waste material start to accumulate and can cause severe damage to your body.

2.    Too Much Salt In Your Diet

Your body needs sodium or salt to work properly. Most people however consume too much salt which may raise blood pressure and put a lot of stress on the kidneys. As a good rule of thumb, no more than 5 grams of salt should be eaten on a daily basis.

3.    Frequently Delaying The Call Of Nature

Many of us ignore the urge to go because they are too busy or want to avoid public bathrooms. Retaining urine on a regular basis increases urine pressure and can lead to kidney failure, kidney stones, and incontinence. So listen to your body when nature calls.

4.    Kick The Sugar Habit

Scientific studies show that people who consume 2 or more sugary drinks a day are more likely to have protein in their urine. Having protein in your urine is an early sign your kidneys are not doing their job as they should.

5.    Vitamin And Mineral Deficiencies

Eating a clean, whole food diet full of fresh vegetables and fruits is important for your overall health and a good kidney function. Many deficiencies can increase the risk of kidney stones or kidney failure. Vitamin B6 and magnesium, for instance, are super important to reduce the risk of kidney stones.

An estimated 70 to 80 percent of Americans isn’t getting enough magnesium, so there may be a good chance that you are one of them. Click here to learn more about magnesium deficiencies.

6.    Too Much Animal Protein

Over consumption of protein, especially red meat, increases the metabolic load on your kidneys. So more protein in your diet means your kidneys have to work harder and this can lead to kidney damage or dysfunction over time.

7.    Sleep Deprivation

We have all heard how important it is to get a good night’s rest. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to many diseases and kidney diseases are also on the list. During the night your body repairs damaged kidney tissue, so give your body the time to heal and repair itself.

8.    Coffee Habit

Just as salt, caffeine can raise blood pressure and put extra stress on your kidneys. Over time excessive consumption of coffee can cause damage to your kidneys.

9.    Painkiller Abuse

Way too many people take painkillers for their small aches and pains, while there are many all-natural, safe remedies available. Excessive use or painkiller abuse can lead to severe damage of liver and kidneys.

10.  Alcohol Consumption

Although there is nothing wrong with enjoying a glass of wine or having a beer once in a while, most of us don’t stop after just one drink. Alcohol is actually a legal toxin that puts a lot of stress on our kidneys and liver.

To stay healthy and avoid kidney issues it is important to eat lots of fresh, whole foods and if you keep the above information in mind and avoid these common habits as much as possible, your kidneys will not be under constant stress and your body will thank you for that.

Mercury fillings lead to kidney damage, study shows