Why are kidneys so important?

 Below you will find more information about the kidneys and the vital role they play in keeping your body functioning.

 Where Are the Kidneys and How Do They Function?

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine.

Each kidney is made up of about a million filtering units called nephrons. A nephron has two parts. The glomerulus strains blood cells and large molecules from the toxins and fluid. The fluids and toxins that pass through then go through the tubule. The tubule collects minerals that the body needs and puts them back into the bloodstream and filters out more toxins. The final product becomes urine.

The kidneys perform their life-sustaining job of filtering and returning to the bloodstream about 200 quarts of fluid every 24 hours. About two quarts are removed from the body in the form of urine, and about 198 quarts are recovered. The urine we excrete has been stored in the bladder for anywhere from 1 to 8 hours.

 

Your kidneys are important because they do three essential things:

  1. Kidneys regulate water

For your body to work properly, it must contain just the right amount of water. One of the important jobs of the kidneys is to remove excess water from the body or to retain water when the body needs more.

  1. Kidneys remove waste products and help to balance the body's minerals

Many of the substances in the blood and other body fluids must be kept at the correct level for the body to function properly. For example, sodium (salt) and potassium are minerals that come from food. The body needs these minerals for good health, but they must be kept at certain levels. When the kidneys are working properly, extra minerals, such as sodium and potassium, leave your body in the urine. The kidneys also help to adjust the levels of other minerals, such as calcium and phosphate (which are important for bone strength, growth and other functions).

 Your kidneys help remove waste products, such as urea and creatinine, from your body. Urea and other wastes are made when the body breaks down protein, such as meat. Creatinine is a waste product of the muscles. As kidney function decreases, the levels of urea and creatinine in the blood increase. The creatinine level in the blood is a very useful measure of kidney function. It is measured by a simple blood test.

  1. Kidneys produce hormones

Normal kidneys also make important chemicals in your body called hormones. These hormones circulate in the bloodstream like “messengers” and regulate blood pressure, red blood cell production and the calcium balance in your body.

 Symptoms As Kidneys Begin To Fail

  • Feeling tired
  • Loss of appetite
  • Metallic taste in your mouth
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Swelling of ankles, hands, and face
  • Itching

 If you or someone you know exhibits these symptoms, it is important to get tested for kidney disease promptly. Remember, the signs and symptoms listed above may be due to other factors, but only your healthcare provider can give you an accurate diagnosis.

 The three main causes of chronic kidney disease are DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE and OBESITY. If you have any of these causes, see your doctor and get an estimated GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) assessment based on a simple blood test.

 

 Get checked for kidney disease and learn about what you can do to keep your kidney healthy.  You can help delay or even prevent kidney failure by treating kidney disease early.

City International Hospital’s Hemodialysis Center is proud to partner with B Braun Group Organization, world's leading providers and manufacturers of healthcare solutions today, to provide our residents with staff assisted hemodialysis treatment options. For more information regarding dialysis, please contact us by calling (+84) 902 483 718.

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