Page 7 - Seniors Today October 2020

Cover Story Keeping the kidneys healthy

Our kidneys are pretty good at looking
after themselves, and we do not need to
take special measures to look after them.
In fact the job of the kidneys (along with
the liver) is to look after our health when
we are not doing just that; they take care of
too much or too little water consumption,
manage the excretion of toxins and other
our Body
’s
Your Body’s socially acceptable poisons that we are Drink as much water as your thirst tells you to, but in-
Y
prone to ingest, and effectively control
F
iltration Plant
Filtration Plant the elimination of drugs which may be crease intake if you have had kidney stones in the past
prescribed or recreational.
in the urine. When this mechanism fails,
Nevertheless, there are some conditions either from being swamped by dietary or
that put the kidneys at risk of damage and fluid indiscretions, or from inherent lack
we need to be aware of these. Diabetes of normal inhibitory factors in the urine,
mellitus and hypertension over a period of a kidney stone will form. Small stones
years can put the kidneys at risk of damage, floating about in the kidneys rarely cause
Often overlooked until something goes wrong with them, the kidneys are and although this can be reduced by proper any discomfort. It is usually when they
vital organs which need preventive care, writes Dr Percy Jal Chibber control with medications, the risk is not become larger or start traversing the ureter
entirely eliminated. Chronic use of certain on their way to the urinary bladder, that
The kidneys are paired bean-shaped (homeostasis). prescribed medications such as painkillers the typical kidney pain results. Kidney
organs situated on the back wall of the Each kidney contains a million tiny (paracetamol and tramadol are reasonably or ureteric colic is often severe spasmodic
upper abdominal cavity. Urine filtered by filtration units called nephrons, and this is safe) or antibiotics may affect kidney pain on one side of the abdomen or back
the kidney is conveyed by tubes called the nature’s way of furnishing us with surplus function and you need to make your doctor that radiates down to the groin. In between
ureters that run from the kidneys down to capacity. We do not become unwell or show aware of this if you have a kidney ailment. spasms, the patient may be relatively
the bladder, where it is stored before being signs of kidney failure until we are down How much water is good for the kidney, is comfortable. It may be accompanied by
passed. to the last 10-15% of our nephrons. An a question I am often asked. The obvious nausea or vomiting, fever with chills
The kidneys are literally vital organs, in estimate of the kidney’s filtration capacity is answer is, let thirst be your guide. However, and difficulty in voiding. The urologist
that, life is unsustainable in their absence. the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) which if you have formed kidney stones in the past will confirm the diagnosis and detect the
The main function of the kidneys is that can be accurately measured, if required, or it may be advisable to maintain a good daily number, size and situation of the stone/s
of a filtration plant. It receives blood from more commonly is roughly estimated by the urine output (2 litres) by consuming the by doing a Non Contrast Scout CT Scan
the body with each heartbeat and filters serum creatinine level, and testing for urine requisite amount of water. of the abdomen, and will run some blood
out unwanted stuff like excess of hydrogen, composition and microscopy. and urine tests to check for infection and
potassium, uric acid, water and other In addition to being a vital filtration Kidney Stones ascertain kidney function.
breakdown products of metabolism or what plant, the kidney also performs the role of The kidneys filter out solutes like calcium If the stone is smaller than 6mm, then
we imbibe, in the form of food or drugs and an important endocrine gland producing oxalate, calcium phosphate, uric acid and the patient is urged to try and expel the
medications. It does this while retaining hormones that are directly released into our urates and other such solutes. If the volume stone spontaneously by taking painkillers,
the desired levels of important ingredients blood. These hormones are Renin to control of urine is high, then the urine solution is copious water intake and medicines that
like proteins, glucose, bicarbonate and our blood pressure, Vit D and Calcitonin dilute and this deters crystals from forming assist in relaxing the ureter and assisting
other electrolytes and water. In so doing it activating enzymes that control calcium in the urine. If crystals do form, they are normal passage. If this fails, or if the stone
maintains a steady balance of important metabolism and Erythropoietin that prevented from aggregating to form a stone is larger, or if pain and infection persist,
body ingredients, despite external factors maintains our haemoglobin levels. by protective substances usually secreted then the stone will need removal. This is

6 SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #16 | OCTOBER 2020 7