“A group of researchers from Toronto universities estimated that between 12.5% and 13.4% of Canadians — as many as 3 million — have some stage of kidney disease, defined as the presence of kidney damage, “abnormalities” or prolonged reduced kidney function.”
Chronic kidney disease is known as a “silent disease” however the following are symptoms most often linked to kidney disease…
Fatigue and weakness
Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting
Dizziness and trouble concentrating kidneys
Headaches, numbness in hands and feet
Frequent urination, especially at night
If you are experiencing the symptoms above your kidneys may be at risk.
What Do Your Kidneys Do?
Your kidneys are one of your body’s vital organs. Their job is to filter waste out of the blood. Blood is carried into these small organs by the renal artery where it is filtered as many as 400 times per day. Tiny filters inside the kidneys called nephrons, remove the waste. In order to remove the waste from the body, it combines with water and is turned into urine. From the kidneys, the urine travels down a long tube called the ureter and collects in the bladder until your body tells you to go to the bathroom. Kidneys also balance the volume of fluids and minerals in the body. This balance is referred to as homeostasis. If you do not have enough fluids in your body, your brain sends out a hormone that tells the kidneys to hold on to some fluids. When you drink, the hormone level goes down, and the kidneys will let go of more fluids.
What is Chronic Kidney Disease?
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) refers to a progressive loss of renal function over a period of months or years. Symptoms associated with CKD are diverse, but those with the disease generally report feeling unwell and experience a lack of appetite. People with diabetes or high blood pressure are often more susceptible to chronic kidney disease, which is identified by a blood test for creatinine. Higher levels of creatinine indicate a lower glomerular filtration rate and as a result a decreased capability of the kidneys to excrete waste products.
How to Reduce Your Risk for Chronic Kidney Failure
1) Keep your blood pressure below 130/80
2) Diabetic? It is important to keep your blood sugar levels within target range.
3) Stay at a healthy weight. Staying at a healthy weight drastically decreases your risk of diseases and illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure (two diseases that increase your chance of CKD).
4) Avoid tobacco products. Smoking can lead to atherosclerosis, which reduces blood flow to the kidneys and increases blood pressure.5) Limit your sodium intake. Too much sodium can place a strain on the kidneys, for too much can cause an imbalance of water in your body.
The Es-Teck Full Body Analysis and Kidney Function
Santé Chiropractic and Wellness Centre offers the Es-Teck Full Body Analysis. The ES- Teck System is advanced technology and is a Health Canada registered Class III Medical Device. Using a finger “Oximeter” it allows for observation of heart rate, tissue oxygen uptake, arterial stiffness, hemodynamic indicators and autonomic nervous system (ANS) levels of activity. It is able to detect whether your kidneys are functioning optimally. Book your very own Es-Teck Full Body Analysis by calling the clinic at (613) 837-2883.
Thank you for reading! If you found the information in this blog useful, please pass it along to your family and friends! You never know…it could save their life! Oh, and be sure to leave any questions, comments, or feedback below! We’d love to hear from you.
References
www.kidney.ca/document.doc?id=137
http://www.torontosun.com/2013/05/06/nearly-3-million-canadians-have-kidney-disease-and-few-know-it-study
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/chronic-kidney-disease-prevention