We work so hard every day, don't we? But did you know that while you're doing these things, there are two amazing organs inside your body that work silently, 24 hours a day, not stopping for a single second? Those are our kidneys. Simply put, these are the most powerful 'filter system' in our body. If these stop, our entire body becomes a mess. So, let's talk about these precious kidneys today.
Simply put, what are kidneys?
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs about the size of the palm of our hand. They are located on either side of our spine, in the lower back, just below the rib cage. They are a major part of our urinary system.
Just think, your kidneys filter about 180-190 liters of fluid every day . That's enough to fill a large bathtub! During this filtering process, waste products and toxins are separated and excreted from the body as urine (we call it ' urine '). We usually excrete about 1.5 - 2 liters of urine per day. And what about the rest of the filtered fluid? Our body reuses it. Isn't it amazing?
In addition, the kidneys also play a major role in maintaining a balance between the amount of fluid and essential minerals called electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium) in our body.
What are the main functions of the kidneys?
The kidneys are not just a blood-filtering machine. There is much more to these two small organs than that. Let's look at the most important things.
| Function | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Waste filtration | It removes harmful waste products and acids from the blood, such as urea and creatinine, and excretes them as urine. About half a cup of blood is purified in this way per minute. |
| Controlling blood pressure | It produces a protein called renin, which helps maintain blood pressure at the required level. |
| Hormone production | The kidneys produce the active form of vitamin D (calcitriol), which helps the body absorb calcium. They also produce a hormone called erythropoietin, which stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells. |
| Acid-base balance (pH balance) in the body | It helps to maintain the proper level of acidity in our blood, preventing it from increasing. |
| Sugar production | If the body's sugar level drops too low, the kidneys can make some sugar (glucose) if needed. |
How does this blood 'filtering' process happen?
This is a very complex, yet amazing process. In each kidney, there are more than a million tiny filtering units called nephrons . It's like a tea strainer that filters tea leaves. There are two main parts to each nephron:
- Glomerulus: This is the first 'filter'. As blood passes through this network of very fine blood vessels, things like water, waste, and salts are filtered out.
- Renal tubules: As the fluid filtered by the glomerulus passes through these tubules, the body reabsorbs the water, nutrients, and minerals it needs . Only waste products, extra water, and acids are excreted as urine.
What are the common conditions that can affect the kidneys?
Unfortunately, there are many medical conditions that can damage these precious organs of ours. It is important to be aware of some of these.
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): This is a condition where the kidneys gradually lose their function over time. Often, the main causes are uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure .
- Kidney Failure: The sudden (acute) or long-term (chronic) loss of kidney function. This is a very serious condition.
- Kidney Stones: Mineral salts in the urine collect and form small, stone-like pieces. If these become lodged in the urinary tract, they can cause severe pain.
- Kidney Infection: This condition occurs when bacteria travel up the urinary tract and enter the kidneys.
- Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD): This is a genetic condition. Many fluid-filled cysts (cysts) develop in the kidneys. This can lead to kidney failure.
- Kidney Cancer: Cancer can occur when kidney cells grow abnormally.
What are the symptoms that raise suspicion of kidney disease?
The biggest problem with many kidney diseases is that they don't show obvious symptoms in the early stages . For many people, these symptoms only appear when the disease is a little more severe. Therefore, it is very important to be a little careful about these things.
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, and face: When the kidneys are unable to properly remove excess fluid and sodium, water builds up in the body and causes swelling. Be especially concerned if you notice swelling around your eyes when you wake up in the morning.
- Changes in urine:
- Increased frequency of urination (especially at night).
- Blood in the urine (the urine may appear pink or dark brown).
- Foamy urine (this may indicate that too much protein is being excreted in the urine).
- Itchy and dry skin: This can happen when waste products accumulate in the blood and affect the skin.
- Constant fatigue and weakness: When the production of the red blood cell-forming hormone (erythropoietin) decreases, anemia can develop and cause fatigue.
- Loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting: These symptoms occur when waste products like urea increase in the blood.
- Muscle pain and stiffness: This can happen when electrolyte balance is disrupted.
The most important thing is that if you have one or more of these symptoms, don't panic and see your doctor immediately for advice . Don't just guess.
What tests are done to check if my kidneys are healthy?
There are several simple tests your doctor can perform to check the health of your kidneys.
| Test | What do you see in this? |
|---|---|
| Urinalysis | The urine is checked for things like protein, blood, and sugar. These are not normally good to have in the urine. |
| Blood Tests | Specifically, the level of serum creatinine in the blood is measured. Creatinine is a waste product. If it is high in the blood, it means that the kidneys are not filtering it properly. |
| Ultrasound Scan | This helps to see the size, shape, and presence of stones or tumors in the kidneys. |
| Kidney Biopsy | Only if necessary, the doctor will take a very small piece of tissue from the kidney and examine it under a microscope. |
Things we can do to keep our precious kidneys healthy
It's better to prevent kidney disease than to suffer from it once it's developed. Incorporate these simple habits into your life.
- Drink enough water: Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day. This helps the kidneys filter out waste easily.
- Control your blood pressure and diabetes: If you have these conditions, take the medication your doctor prescribes exactly. These two are the biggest enemies of the kidneys.
- Reduce salt intake: Reduce the amount of salt you add to your food. Packaged foods and fast foods are high in salt.
- Do not use painkillers frequently: Continuous use of painkillers, especially NSAIDs (e.g., Ibuprofen, Diclofenac), without a doctor's advice, can damage the kidneys.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking damages the blood vessels that supply blood to the kidneys.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Exercise regularly. Eat a balanced diet.
- Get medical checkups: Get your kidney function checked at least once a year, especially if someone in your family has kidney disease, or if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.
Take-Home Message
- Your kidneys are two super organs that filter waste from the body, control blood pressure, and perform many other important functions.
- Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two main causes of kidney damage. It is essential to control these well.
- Be aware of symptoms such as swollen legs, changes in urine, and excessive fatigue. If in doubt, seek medical advice immediately.
- Drinking enough water, reducing salt intake, and not continuing to take painkillers without medical advice are very important for kidney health.
- It's a good practice to regularly check the health of your kidneys, especially if you have risk factors.
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