Kidney disease is a condition that could be any from a large group of conditions which include infections, inflammatory conditions, obstruction, circulatory, and cancerous disorders affecting the kidneys. In the early stages of kidney disease, many people experience no symptoms at all.
As kidney functioning deteriorates one may develop the following problems: a decreased amount of urine, blood urine, persistent proteinuria, urine that looks foamy or dark, pus in urine, pain in the flanks or low back pain, edema, difficulty in urination, high blood pressure, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, itchiness, swollen face or extremities, and muscle cramps.
Function of the Kidneys:
The kidneys have several important functions and all these functions are altered in case of kidney failure.
1. Balances the volume of body fluid and mineral content
2. Excretes extra acid that the body produces
3. Conserves water, salts and electrolytes
4. Filters metabolic wastes from the blood plasma and excretes it from the body
5. Secretes hormones Erythropoietin (EPO) to make more red blood cells
6. Removes and breaks down toxins in the body by getting rid of it in the urine
7. Responsible for ensuring that blood pressure remains steady over the long term
8. Activates Vitamin D to maintain healthy bones
Causes of Kidney Problem:
Kidneys, is a part of the urinary system, which removes waste and excess fluid and blood electrolytes, controls the production of red blood cells. Different cancers have different risk factors. The first is Smoking increases the risk of kidney cancer by about 40%. Cigarette smokers are two times more likely than nonsmokers to develop kidney cancer. According to the person is overweight is a much greater risk of contracting kidney cancer and is the last work, increases the risk of kidney cancer. Others risk factors is high blood pressure and some medicines such as pain-reliever.
Symptom of Kidney Problems: –
1. Swelling of the face and feet and sometimes of the whole body (Edema) – Important sign of kidney disease.
2. Puffiness around the eyes, particularly in the morning.
3. Burning sensation while urinating.
4. Gross Hematuria – Red or coffee colored urine.
5. Change in pattern of urination including increased frequency of urination and having to get up more often at night to pass urine.
6. Pain in the back just below the ribs.
7. High blood pressure.
8. Increasing weakness.
Diet for Kidney Problems
Diet with sodium restriction could also help to fluid overload because sodium attracts water. Therefore, if you eat less amount of sodium, you attract less water that may cause overload as I was pointing out earlier. Sodium, as we all know, are minerals found naturally in food. Foods high in sodium are the one we usually ingest and eat, because these foods primarily give us the feeling to crave for more.
Home Remedies for Kidney Problems
Try the following kidney stone remedies to ease your daughter’s condition –
It is wise to flush the small stones naturally. This can be done by increasing fluid consumption in the form of water, fruit juices especially cranberry juice and orange juice, barley water, and coconut water.
Include foods like yogurt, garlic, cabbage and parsley liberally in your daily diet.
Prepare 1 cup of horse gram soup from 2 tbsp horse gram then add1tbsp of pomegranate seed powder to it. Pomegranate seed powder is considered as a good remedy for kidney stones.
Depending on the type of stone certain dietary restrictions should be considered.
For uric acid stone consumption of purine rich foods namely meat, fish, poultry, lentils, spinach, peas and beans in diet should be restricted. For calcium oxalate stone foods rich in oxalates like spinach, parsley, celery, tea, strawberries, blueberries, chocolate, grapes and green pepper should be restricted.
Also minimize the consumption of refined flour, coffee, pickles, salt, sugar, processed foods, alcohol, carbonated beverages and soda.