It is a hot sunny day and you are on a walk, but you have
forgotten your water bottle. Not a big deal, right? Maybe you get a light
headache but you will be alright, right? Surprisingly, it might be a big deal
for your kidneys.
Experts warn us that dehydration can negatively affect
kidney function and actually contribute to life-threatening kidney diseases.
Wish you would have taken your water bottle with you now?
How does dehydration affect my kidneys?
As we all know, water plays an incredibly important part in
the working of our body. One of its most important roles is to remove waste
from our blood in the form of urine. However, according to experts at Kidney
Research UK, when our bodies are dehydrated, the urine we produce has a higher
concentration of minerals and waste, which can lead to the formation of
crystals within our bloodstream. These crystals can affect kidney function and
contribute to kidney diseases such as kidney stones and even kidney failure.
How will I know if I have kidney problems?
Although it may be easy to tell if you have kidney stones,
there are other symptoms of kidney problems that might not be so obvious. When
we are severely dehydrated, our kidney function can be rapidly reduced, leading
to an acute kidney injury (AKI). While AKI’s do not always cause symptoms, some
signs of kidney include producing less urine than usual, nausea, fatigue, high
blood pressure and swelling in the legs, ankles or feet. If you experience any
of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention.
How can I prevent kidney damage?
Apart from staying hydrated, there are other ways you can
protect your kidneys. We should get our blood pressure and blood glucose levels
regularly checked by doctors as they can be good indicators of kidney health.
And of course, the usual health advice applies to your kidneys as well as your
overall mental and physical health: reduce your salt intake, manage your
weight, create a regular exercise routine and moderate any alcohol.