How to protect my kidneys?

Our kidneys perform functions essential. By making the urine, which helps to eliminate toxic substances or useless, our kidneys play an important role in cleansing our entire body. The peculiarity of kidney disease is that it installs silently for years. And when the first symptoms appear, it is often already irreversible damage signal. All the more reason to adopt good habits to protect their kidneys to undergo some judicious screening of kidney disease.

Preventing renal failure due to screening

Chronic renal failure affects 2.5 million French. But according to the National Federation to assist with renal impairment, early detection could prevent 10% of cases and delay for many years the onset of renal failure in 30% of cases.

What makes the detection of renal failure?

•     Regular monitoring of blood pressure because high blood pressure can reveal the presence of kidney disease.
  
•     By a urine test strip for the presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria), blood (hematuria) or sugar (glycosuria), indicating a malfunction of the kidneys.

When kidney disease is suspected, the diagnosis is confirmed by a blood test measuring the amount of substances eliminated by the kidneys: creatinine, urea ... accumulation in the blood of these substances indicates a malfunction of the kidneys. The identification of those at risk. As mentioned above, renal disease develops slowly and silently installs. It is therefore important to identify people who pose the greatest risk of developing renal failure in order to provide an annual screening (urine test, blood pressure measurement).

Who is most at risk of kidney failure?

•      People aged over 60 years (age as the kidneys!).
•      With hypertension (high blood pressure - like diabetes - damages the small blood vessels in the kidneys, damaging in the long run the filtration capacity of the kidneys).
•      People with diabetes (excess sugar in the blood is also seeking stronger kidneys and "fatigue").
•      Persons with a family history of kidney disease.
•      People who are kidney infections.
•      Subjects with an autoimmune disease or inflammatory.
•      People with chronic viral infections such as hepatitis or HIV.
•      Monitoring of certain treatments known to have toxic effects on the kidneys.

All these people should have regular screening tests, with at least a measure of blood pressure and a urine test strip for each year.

That said, we can all ask our doctor if testing is appropriate in this case to check the proper functioning of our kidneys.

Retain as diabetes and hypertension are the leading causes of kidney failure and dialysis. Thus, preventing diabetes and hypertension, we take care of our kidneys!