Even a child knows that smoking can cause lung cancer, alcohol abuse can cause liver cirrhosis, a sedentary lifestyle is harmful to the heart, and excessive craving for high-calorie food is a direct path to obesity. But few people think that some of our habits are quite dangerous for the kidneys. This body is undeservedly forgotten. But it is the kidneys that are the “perpetual motion machine” that tirelessly removes waste products of metabolism, toxins and slags from the body. When the kidneys stop working, the rest of the organs will also not be able to function. So, what habits of a modern person have a detrimental effect on the main purification system of the body?
Insufficient water consumption
For the proper functioning of all body systems, a person should consume about 2 liters of clean water daily (to be more precise, the individual norm is calculated according to the formula: 30 ml of water per 1 kg of body weight). Dehydration is an extremely dangerous condition for all systems, and especially for the kidneys. Learn more: https://foodandhealth.ru/info/privychki-kotorye-okazyvayut-negativnoe-vliyanie-na-pochki/
The function of the kidneys is to cleanse the body of toxins and remove them with urine. But in order for this “flushing” system to work, it must regularly receive the necessary amount of liquid. If it is not enough, the toxins are not excreted in time, which is fraught with the appearance of urinary tract infections, the formation of kidney stones and even kidney failure. Dehydration causes the accumulation of toxins and acids, and can also cause overload of the kidneys with muscle protein (myoglobin). Drinking enough water prevents the stone-forming crystals from sticking together. The only case when a large amount of fluid can harm the kidneys is a decrease in the functional activity of the organ or kidney failure.
Excessive passion for salty
In order for the urinary system of the body to work correctly, it is important to maintain a balance of potassium and sodium. The abuse of salty food violates it, which in turn causes a decrease in the functionality of the kidneys and leads to insufficient excretion of fluid from the body. This causes an increase in blood pressure, which, in turn, increases the load on the kidneys and can cause their disease. The abuse of salt has a detrimental effect on the hemodynamics of the glomeruli, causing hyperfiltration and an increase in intraclubular pressure. It is extremely dangerous for elderly people, patients with diabetes and obesity to get too carried away with salty food. According to one hypothesis, salt can accelerate the progression of chronic renal failure. It has been proven that the consumption of salt in large quantities increases the level of protein in the urine, which is a risk factor for reducing the functionality of the organ. In addition, the abuse of salt can worsen the condition of people who already have problems with the functioning of the urinary system.
Excess protein in the diet
High-protein diets are the most popular among those losing weight and people professionally engaged in power sports. Proteins are undoubtedly one of the most important nutrients for the human body, but the abuse of protein food is no less dangerous than its lack.
The fascination with high-protein nutrition programs can lead to impaired kidney function. It has been established that an excess of proteins can cause intraclubular hypertension, which in turn leads to hyperfiltration of the organ, damage to the glomeruli, proteinuria (the presence of protein in the urine), increases the risk of nephrolithiasis and various metabolic abnormalities. In addition, Singapore scientists have found a connection not only between the amount of protein consumed, but also its quality. Excessive consumption of animal proteins is more dangerous than vegetable proteins. It is especially harmful to get carried away with protein foods for people with chronic kidney disease.
Abuse of products that cause the formation of stones
Kidney stones are dense formations of salts and minerals. Their appearance is extremely dangerous for the urinary system. If the formations are very large, it can cause kidney failure. The risk of stone formation increases if: abuse salty and protein foods of animal origin; overly fond of foods containing a lot of calcium; exceed the daily allowance of vitamin C; overly fond of lemonades and other drinks rich in citrates. But the risk of kidney failure due to foods is minimal if you eat in a balanced way.
Excessive love for coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks of our time. The caffeine contained in the drink helps a person to stay in good shape and at the peak of their activity. For many, 4-5 cups of coffee a day have become the norm. But the abuse of caffeinated beverages may not be safe for the kidneys. Coffee and black tea are sources of oxalates – substances from which kidney stones are formed.
Too much alcohol
Alcohol abuse is a direct path to chronic kidney disease, and for people who already have this disease, even a small portion of alcohol significantly increases the risk of death. Despite the fact that alcohol is metabolized mainly in the liver, the kidneys also “get”. Approximately 10% of the ethanol ingested in its original form is excreted by the kidneys. Alcohol consumption significantly increases the load on the kidneys, in addition, it can cause oxidative stress in the organ, which, in turn, is fraught with tissue damage due to hemodynamic disorders and inflammation. Also, against the background of excessive alcohol addiction, dysfunction of the renal tubules, violation of hemodynamics in the glomeruli, changes in the structure of the organ may develop.
Nicotine harms not only the lungs
In addition to the fact that nicotine is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer, clinical studies confirm a certain harm of smoking to the kidneys. Scientific experiments have shown the relationship between smoking and the development of chronic kidney disease in patients with diabetes, hypertension, polycystic kidney disease, as well as after organ transplantation. Nicotine causes a temporary increase in blood pressure, which leads to a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate and disruption of proper renal blood flow. Scientists have conducted a number of studies that have confirmed that nicotine can provoke irreversible changes in the organ in people of different ages. This means that smoking is another bad habit, which it is better to get rid of as soon as possible.
Frequent use of medications
Painkillers and other medications are a real salvation for humanity. The possibilities of modern pharmacology make it possible to treat diseases from which people died or suffered greatly a few decades ago. Nevertheless, some are so addicted to taking medications, even when you can do without them, that they do not notice how they harm the body instead of the benefits. In particular, the kidneys. Any medication taken orally, after undergoing certain metabolic processes, should be excreted from the body as a slag or toxin. And the urinary system is responsible for this function. Different groups of medications can have different harmful effects on the kidneys: antibiotics can form crystals that prevent the outflow of urine and damage kidney cells, the risk of such an effect increases when the dose of the drug is very high; diuretics – if you take them more than the prescribed amount, dehydration occurs, which is dangerous for the kidneys; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – taking in high doses or for a long time can be dangerous for the urinary system, annually about 5% of cases of chronic renal failure are the result of NSAID abuse; proton pump inhibitors (heartburn medications) – when abused, increase the risk of kidney failure.
Lack of sleep
It would seem, well, what could be the connection between lack of sleep and kidney health. But no, it is there and very tight. Scientists are getting more and more evidence that sleep disorders affect the state of the kidneys. Moreover, according to a Korean study, chronic kidney disease can develop, both due to lack of sleep and as a result of excessively long sleep. According to scientists, people who sleep less than 5 and more than 8 hours are equally susceptible to the progression of CKD.
Sedentary lifestyle
It is well known that a sedentary lifestyle does not bring anything good for the body. Reduced motor activity increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, impairs the functioning of the respiratory system, leads to impaired blood flow, muscle atrophy. Many people know this. But not everyone knows that a sedentary lifestyle is also harmful to the kidneys. Meanwhile, researchers have found reliable confirmation of the relationship between inactivity and chronic kidney disease. Bypassing all complex terms, we can say that reduced motor activity causes certain chemical reactions in the body, which, in turn, lead to damage to kidney cells.
Urinary retention
When the bladder is full, it must be emptied – it is impossible to delay urination. And it’s not about discomfort or unpleasant sensations. During urination, the urinary tract is washed of bacteria, preventing them from multiplying. Otherwise, pathogens can climb up the urinary tract to the kidneys, causing an inflammatory process. In addition, if urine is held back for too long, it will begin to return back to the kidneys, which can lead to CKD or kidney failure.
