Keep your kidneys healthy
Kidney disease is estimated to affect more than 800 million people worldwide (1). Taking action for prevention, early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the risk and the burden of kidney disease.
Role of the kidneys, kidney disease and risk factors
Kidneys are vital organs that regulate fluid balance, blood pressure and produce hormones that stimulate the production of red blood cells . Kidney disease is a condition in which kidneys lose their ability to effectively filter waste products and excess fluids from the blood. Kidney disease commonly leads to a decline in kidney function that may lead to kidney failure, characterized by the complete loss of kidney function. At this stage dialysis or kidney transplantation become the only treatment option.
Kidney problems can emerge suddenly (acute) or gradually over time (chronic). Various conditions, diseases and medications can contribute to acute and chronic kidney problems. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by a prolonged period of kidney abnormalities that last for more than three months (2), whereas acute kidney disease – acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by a sudden loss of excretory kidney function (3).
Other forms of kidney disease include polycystic kidney disease (PKD) a genetic disorder that leads to kidney enlargement and impaired kidney function over time and glomerulonephritis (GN). GN is a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of the glomeruli, the filtration units of the kidney (4).
The most common risk factors for the development and progression of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure. Managing blood sugar and blood pressure can help keep kidneys healthy. Other risk factors of CKD include heart disease, obesity, family history and genetic background as well as age, smoking and nutrition (5).
Consequences of kidney disease include heart disease, high blood pressure, bone and mineral disorders, and anemia (6).
Keep Your Kidneys Healthy
Regular exercise, weight control, a balanced diet (7) and sufficient fluid intake are only some of the ways to keep your kidney healthy.
World Kidney Day – about kidney health download here and check out the 6-Step Guide to Protecting Kidney Health here .
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Literature
- Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease: an update 2022. Kidney Int Suppl (2011). Kovesdy CP. 2022 Apr;12(1):7-11. doi: 10.1016/j.kisu.2021.11.003. Epub 2022 Mar 18. PMID: 35529086; PMCID: PMC9073222.
- Chronic Kidney Disease Diagnosis and Management: A Review. Chen TK, Knicely DH, Grams ME. JAMA. 2019 Oct 1;322(13):1294-1304. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.14745. PMID: 31573641; PMCID: PMC7015670.
- Acute kidney injury. Kellum JA, Romagnani P, Ashuntantang G, Ronco C, Zarbock A, Anders HJ. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2021 Jul 15;7(1):52. doi: 10.1038/s41572-021-00284-z. PMID: 34267223.
- Glomerulonephritis: immunopathogenesis and immunotherapy. Anders HJ, Kitching AR, Leung N, Romagnani P.Nat Rev Immunol. 2023 Jul;23(7):453-471. doi: 10.1038/s41577-022-00816-y. Epub 2023 Jan 12. PMID: 36635359; PMCID: PMC9838307.
- Risk factors for chronic kidney disease: an update. Kazancioğlu R Kidney Int Suppl (2011). 2013 Dec;3(4):368-371. doi: 10.1038/kisup.2013.79. PMID: 25019021; PMCID: PMC4089662.
- Cardiorenal Syndrome and the Role of the Bone-Mineral Axis and Anemia. Charytan DM, Fishbane S, Malyszko J, McCullough PA, Goldsmith D Am J Kidney Dis. 2015 Aug;66(2):196-205. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2014.12.016. Epub 2015 Feb 26. PMID: 25727384; PMCID: PMC4516683.
- The Effect of Diet on the Survival of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Rysz J, Franczyk B, Ciałkowska-Rysz A, Gluba-Brzózka A.Nutrients. 2017 May 13;9(5):495. doi: 10.3390/nu9050495. PMID: 28505087; PMCID: PMC5452225.