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Poor Kidney Function could Lead to Obesity. Take Action Now!
Almost 18% of severely obese adolescents show signs of abnormal kidney
function, according to new research presented at the National Kidney
Foundation's 2014 Spring Clinical Meetings.
The kidneys,
located in the back of abdomen are organs in the body which function to remove
water and waste products. They also produce important hormones such as
erythropoietin, Vitamin D, and renin.
Kidney Function
Kidneys controls the concentration of body fluids in the body by excreting
excessive amounts of water in the urine if body
fluids are too dilute or by
excreting excessive solutes when body fluids are too concentrated. Another
important function is acid-base balance. The body maintains a constant pH via
several buffering mechanisms. The kidney plays a major role in this by the net
excretion of hydrogen ions when the blood is too acidic and the net excretion of
bicarbonate ions when the blood is too alkaline.
They are also responsible for the conversion of Vitamin
D to its active metabolite, which
is important in the absorption of calcium from the intestine. Erythropoietin is
manufactured by the kidney and stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood
cells. With renal failure there is decreased production of this hormone and
anemia results. Produce renin, an enzyme that helps regulate blood
pressure.
When the kidneys become damaged, waste products and fluid can build up in the
body, causing swelling in your ankles, vomiting, weakness, poor sleep, and
shortness of breath.
Test for Kidney Failure
The presence of too much albumin�a
type of protein�in the urine, known medically as albuminuria or proteinuria, is
an early sign of kidney damage. Researchers from Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Medical Center examined 242 severely obese adolescents for the study, and found
that 17 percent of them had protein (albumin) in their urine -- a condition
called albuminuria, which is considered a sign of early kidney damage.
The Glomerular Filteration Rate (GFR)
test is a measure of how well the kidneys are removing wastes and excess fluid
from the blood. It may be calculated from the serum creatinine level using your
age, weight, gender and body size. Normal GFR can vary according to age (as you
get older it can decrease). The normal value for GFR is 90 or above. A GFR below
60 is a sign that the kidneys are not working properly. A GFR below 15 indicates
that a treatment for kidney failure, such as dialysis or a kidney transplant,
will be needed. In the same study, 3
percent of the teens had an abnormally low glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and
7 percent of teens had an abnormally high GFR. Researchers also found an
association between higher body mass index and very low GFR.
Symptoms of Kidney Failure
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A metallic taste in the mouth or ammonia breath
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Protein aversion (no longer wanting to eat meat)
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Nausea and vomiting
-
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Itchiness (pruritis)
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Swelling in the face, feet or hands
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Shortness of breath (from fluid in the lungs)
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Urine that is foamy or bubbly (may be seen when protein is
in the urine)
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Weakness
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Mental confusion
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Feeling cold all the time
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Desire to chew ice, clay or laundry starch (called pica)
Early kidney
problems don't have many symptoms�but if you are experiencing
any of the ones mentioned above, ask your doctor to determine if
your signs are caused by kidney failure.
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Tips to Manage a Healthy Kidney
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Reduce the intake of salt: Salt
increases the amount of sodium in
diet.
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Drink lots of water every
day: Water keeps you hydrated and helps the kidneys to remove all the toxins from
your body.
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Don�t resist the urge to
urinate: Filtration of blood is a key function that your kidneys
perform.
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Eat Healthy Food: If
you eat more unhealthy, junk and fast
food, then your organs have to face the consequences, including the
kidneys. Foods that can strengthen your kidneys include fish, asparagus,
cereals, garlic and parsley. Fruits like watermelon, oranges and lemons are
also good for kidney health.
-
Drink healthy beverages: Including
fresh juices. Avoid drinking coffee and tea.
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Avoid alcohol and smoking: Excess
intake of alcohol can disturb the electrolyte balance of the body and hormonal control
that influences the kidney function.
-
Exercise daily: Researchers
believe that obesity is closely linked to kidney related problems.
-
Don't Overuse over-the-counter pain killers: Avoid
excessive use of medications that can harm the kidneys, such as ibuprofen
and naproxen.
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Watch your blood pressure: Blood
pressure checks are important since high blood pressure can damage the
kidneys.
-
Maintain a healthy weight: Being
overweight means that the kidneys have to work harder to filter out toxins
and to meet the metabolic demands of the increased body
mass.
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Know your kidney numbers. This goes for blood and urine. EGFR, or
estimated glomerular filtration rate, is a measure of kidney function and is
performed through a blood test. Be sure to get your urine tested as well for
a protein called albumin. Too much albumin in the urine is an early sign of
kidney damage.
Ref:
Dated 28 April 2014
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