Wellbeing and cleansing of the kidneys (2)

Having looked at the functions and anatomical structure of the urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, I shall now present diseases of the kidneys. Like any other gland in the body, the kidneys are prone to different kinds of diseases. Out of all these, we shall be looking at two for obvious reasons. Chronic kidney disease is the final outcome of the diseases of the kidney and some others that are not primarily diseases of the kidneys- diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

The other kidney condition is what is known as kidney stones. Kidney diseases such as these, which ultimately lead to kidney failure, have to be clearly understood and handled appropriately by all – practitioners, patients and their relatives. Unfortunately, there has been an increase in the prevalence of these diseases, even amongst the younger generation. It is my fervent hope that some lives are going to be saved from this series on the kidneys.

Chronic kidney disease (chronic renal failure)
Chronic kidney disease is a progressive loss in kidney function over a period of months and years. There are numerous causes, which include improperly managed diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, glomerulonephritis etc. Other causes are consumption of sugar [and all those carbohydrates with high glycemic indices], ingestion of fake and expired drugs, the indiscriminate use of drugs like analgesics, consumption of fast foods and food from vendors prepared in unhygienic environment. Even the ‘dead’ food that we cook and eat daily in our homes can also cause chronic kidney disease. Certain practices that people embark upon have been implicated in this disease. Practices such as over consumption of alcohol, smoking and ingestion of caffeinated beverages.

Almost all these causes ultimately give rise to increased acid build up (acidosis) in the body. The single most important cause of acidosis is dehydration. In a dehydrated individual, the blood becomes more viscous and the circulation sluggish. This will most definitely affect the tiny blood vessels in the kidney. Another source of acid in the body is the colon. I have shown in the past that the colon is an important structure that can cause diseases anywhere in the body depending on its condition. In a person who is frequently constipated, due in most cases to dehydration, a lot of acid is generated and released from the colon, which adds up to the acidosis in the body. As time goes on, the kidneys, experiencing a decline in function (reduction in urine production), will begin to retain the acid forming minerals thereby increasing the acidosis; the organ which should regulate the pH of the body fluids is failing seriously in its function.

Symptoms of chronic kidney disease
Early symptoms of CKD could be the symptoms of other diseases and they may be the only signs until the disease is well advanced.
The symptoms may include: headache, tiredness, generally feeling unwell, nausea, vomiting, weight loss (unexplained), pruritus (itching of the skin) and dry skin.

When the condition has gotten worse and kidney function has become more severely impaired the following symptoms can be observed: bone pain, the skin may become abnormally dark or light. Nervous system symptoms at this stage are: confusion, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, cramps and numbness of the feet and fingers. Added to these are increased feeling of thirst and frequent hiccups, easy bruising and bleeding, breath odor, decreased libido and amenorrhea (cessation of menstruation). Also seen are conditions like sleeplessness, shortness of breath and swelling of the feet and hands. Experiencing these symptoms should be a wakeup call for routine medical checkup and investigations.

Prevention of chronic kidney disease
First and foremost, those things we can do without must be stopped. Stop cigarette smoking, avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages.
It is better to prepare your food at home than patronizing flour and sugar based food outlets whose food do no other thing to your body than increase acidosis.

Conditions such as diabetes and hypertension should be adequately managed by those whose duty it is, the doctors. Avoid self medication and the ingestion of fake and expired drugs. Always buy drugs that are prescribed to you from reputable pharmacies. You know I can never be tired of asking you to drink sufficient amount of water daily and the more alkaline it is, the better (example Lasena Water). Exercise often and your circulation will increase, acid wastes will be eliminated faster, the heart will be more strengthened and high blood pressure will become normalized. Go for regular check ups and have your blood tested.