Drink, but in moderation: how to keep the kidneys healthy

With and without features

 – What should a woman know about her kidneys?

 – The kidneys are a paired organ located symmetrically on both sides of the spine. Nature itself has made sure that we are insured in the event of failure of one of them. The main task of the kidneys is to excrete harmful metabolic products and excess fluid. Therefore, the load on the kidneys during life is enormous, especially during pregnancy, when a woman’s organs work for two.

Sometimes there are anatomical features of the urinary system with which a person is born (anomalies in the structure, location and shape of the kidneys, the number of vessels). These changes may give rise to problems in the field of urology in the future. To exclude such structural pathologies, it is imperative to do an ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder at least once.

Another important point is the identification of functional disorders of the urinary system. Primary changes can be detected already in the general analysis of urine – the doctor evaluates the indicators of the density and acidity of urine, protein, bilirubin and sugar. The color and amount of urine are also important. Be sure to pay attention to pain in the lower abdomen, in the lumbar region and when urinating. Women always have a peculiarity – first of all, she takes care of her loved ones. As a doctor, I advise you to stop periodically and carefully look at your well-being and, if you have alarming symptoms, do not delay going to the doctor.

 – What are the most common female urological diseases?

 – One of the elements required for kidney health is calcium. We all know that getting enough calcium can have a positive effect on teeth and bones. Among other things, calcium is responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses, muscle contractions and the regulation of blood clotting. If there is a lack or excess of calcium, it can immediately affect the state of the whole organism as a whole. And one more important point: during pregnancy, a woman herself becomes a source of calcium for her child, that is, she may be recommended to increase doses of a trace element. But the main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise there is a chance of earning kidney stones.

According to statistics, the development of urolithiasis most often occurs in the middle age between 31 and 45 years. But women get sick less often than men. Perhaps it’s a matter of lifestyle – women eat better, drink more fluids, eat less animal protein. In addition, the proportion of infectious kidney stones in women with antibiotic therapy is quite low compared to the time when we did not know about antibiotics. But this type of stones in women used to be very common because of the structural features – a short urethra and frequent ascending pyelonephritis.

Another of the fairly common female urological diseases is cystitis. The problem is quite often associated with the debut of sexual activity or with poor nutritional quality, for example, a passion for fast carbohydrates. In this case, urine acidification and the appearance of sugars in it at later stages occur. With cystitis, infection and metabolic disorders go hand in hand, provoking a change in hormonal levels. Together, this fits into a series of unpleasant symptoms: pain, frequent urination, chills, high fever.

We save the kidneys

 – How to preserve kidney health?

 – I would single out five areas that need to be closely monitored.

first – consume enough liquid. The important elements in this case are both the quantity and the quality of the water. It is worth keeping a balance of fluid intake. You don’t need to force yourself to drink all the time: you will lose important electrolytes and your metabolism will be disrupted. Those who, on the contrary, drink little, may run the risk of thickening of internal fluids and the formation of stones. When it comes to drinking quality, it is very important to consume fluids that do not retain water in the body. Then our buffer system will work well by itself.

Second – prevention of inflammatory changes. Hygiene plays an important role here. In women, as I said, the urethra is short and wide. The main recommendations for preventing cystitis and urinary tract infections are correct urination and increased attention to hygiene during menstruation and after intercourse. Also, I would not advise you to get too carried away with such hygiene products as pads and tampons, they have a bad effect on a woman’s microbiota.

The third – nutrition balanced in terms of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fiber. Monotonous nutrition is one of the factors of excessive acidification of urine and a decrease in its rheological properties, the precipitation of citrates and uric acid. This is especially true for women with metabolic disorders.

Fourth – prevention of secondary hyperparathyroidism, a consequence of vitamin D deficiency. An important place among the manifestations of hyperparathyroidism belongs to kidney damage. It develops in connection with hypercalcemia and increased excretion of calcium in the urine (nephrocalcinosis). It is necessary to carefully monitor the symptoms: is there increased fatigue, is your memory worsened? In this condition, the level of calcium in the blood can drop and the level of phosphorus can increase. When correcting a deficiency, it should be borne in mind that vitamin D is absorbed differently for everyone. Genetic predisposition and digestion characteristics play an important role. Therefore, it is good to take vitamin K and polyunsaturated fatty acids along with vitamin D.

Fifth – find out your family history. If your relatives suffered from renal ailments, even in the absence of clinical conditions, you need to find time to be examined by a specialist in a specialized center.

True or myth?

Finally, I will debunk the myth. In my opinion, there is not a single definitive food product that can directly affect kidney health. Except, of course, the abuse of salt. Tea, coffee, tomatoes or anything else from the outdated recommendations does not require exclusion from the diet. The main advice is to pay attention to the quality of food and water. If we use mineral water as a prophylaxis, pay attention to oligomineral break… Due to its high alkalinity, this water is well accepted by the kidneys and does not stay in the body. Since stone formation is always associated with metabolic disorders, the intake of hydrocarbonate mineral waters, for example Bilinskaya Kiselki, can improve absorption processes and make the gastrointestinal tract feel comfortable. We must not forget that our body is a galaxy where all systems are interconnected. Therefore, improving the functioning of the intestines and gastric tract has a beneficial effect on the function of the urinary system.