The concept of keeping on top of your various health needs can seem kind of daunting. That is, until you look at how each part of your body works. Two appreciated organs that are often misunderstood regarding how hard-working they are are your kidneys. If you have ever wanted to know more about kidney health, consider this a helpful introduction. Plus, you’ll learn about the role of kidney testing and how it can help your kidneys feel their best.
Are kidneys important to your health?
This is probably a question you already know the answer to, but here it is: yes. This gets so many questions because many people survive entirely with one kidney instead of two.
So, while two kidneys are best, a person can survive on one kidney with extra care and attention. You must have at least one kidney, though, as they are considered vital organs for your body!
What are your kidneys’ jobs?
Your kidneys are powerful organs that do a lot for your body. Since most of us don’t think about them until there’s a problem, it makes sense that we don’t even know their main roles. Otherwise, we’d appreciate them a whole lot more.
First, kidneys work hard. Your kidneys filter 200 litres of fluid every 24 hours. This comes from body processes and diet.
Regarding general roles, kidneys remove waste and extra fluid from your body while filtering. This is the biggest role that they fill. They also work on balancing salt, water, and minerals. Kidneys are partially responsible for keeping bones strong and healthy.
Kidneys work hard to maintain a healthy balance in the body when it comes to acid level. When cells break down, they create acid. This can be worsened by the diet that you eat if it continues to increase acid. Kidneys have to keep a healthy pH balance by removing or adjusting the acid levels in the body.
That’s not all that your kidneys do, though. These small organs also control blood pressure and make red blood cells. Your kidneys also need to alter Vitamin D so that it can change from inactive to active to be put to work in your body.
What does that mean for you?
But what does that actually mean for you and your body? As far as how you notice those jobs, it’s more about what you’d notice if your kidneys suddenly stopped working. If you were to lose all kidney function suddenly, you’d have poor nerve, muscle, and tissue health. You also could not keep your balance when standing, sitting, or walking.
Of course, you don’t want it to get to that point. That’s why considering kidney testing is so important. You can use a simple, at-home test to determine what’s going on with your kidney health and kidney function. Normal results mean you are doing a great job caring for your kidneys. Abnormal results mean you should consult your GP and see what you can do to help give your kidneys a bit more TLC.
What happens if my kidneys aren’t working properly?
When kidneys cannot function at their best, your body’s filtration system is also not working well. It can’t filter out toxins, and your body won’t be able to keep the proper balance with acids.
The most common symptoms of under-functioning kidneys are lethargy, headaches, swelling in the ankles, fluid retention, lower back pain, and high blood pressure. If you notice any of these symptoms, you can consider doing a kidney health check to see if it’s your kidney function or something else entirely.
How to keep my kidneys happy and healthy
As you can see, kidneys work hard to keep your body in its best shape. Many people have kidney issues and don’t even know it. Keeping kidney health a priority is excellent when you want to minimise stress as much as possible.
Two top options for preventative care are adjusting to a kidney diet and making the time for kidney testing so that you can see what’s going on with accurate and personalised results. Once you see what you’re living with, you can start to make positive changes as needed to help protect your kidneys.
While we might not think about our kidneys until we need to, it is reassuring to understand how to care for them both preventatively and after the fact. Every little thing we can do to help our kidneys will make a huge difference to our health and how we feel daily.