The prevalence of kidney damage is terrifying and our high levels of exposure to toxins continue to take a toll on the proper functioning of this important organ. Once kidney function is compromised, so is your health. Learn the signs of a damaged kidney, and the things you can do to naturally improve its function.
5 signs of a diseased and damaged kidney that you shouldn’t ignore
Whatever level you are at if you have kidney disease , knowing about it will empower you. Knowing about the possible symptoms of a damaged kidney can help you get the right treatment to improve your health. Most of the time it is the bad habits that are damaging your kidneys . If you find that you or someone close to you is having one or more of the symptoms below, see a doctor for blood and urine tests. Although you must remember that some symptoms may be due to other health problems that you are experiencing and not precisely a damaged kidney. Never stop visiting the doctor to clear any doubts.
Back pain
One of the first and most consistent signs of kidney damage, or simply kidneys that are loaded, is lower back pain .
Sometimes it is only on one side that the pain occurs, and this will be the side of the kidney that is having the most problems. But in most cases, shortly after it is on one side, the pain will move to both sides.
A typical example is waking up in the morning or even in the middle of the night and you have pain in your lower back, on one side, or both. You are going to urinate and it may or may not come out easily. Then the back loosens up a bit and it feels a lot better. This is an early warning sign of kidney damage, and it is much more treatable if addressed quickly.
Rashes, itching, and dryness
The kidneys help remove waste from the blood, so when they fail, waste build-up in the blood can cause rashes, severe itching, and dryness.
This is often an early sign of kidney damage, and should be taken seriously. Avoid the temptation to try topical creams, which do nothing to fix the real problem.
Changes in urinary function
Since the kidneys produce urine, when your urinary patterns fail it can change its color and consistency. Some examples of this change are:
- Urine may be foamy or bubbly
- You can start getting up more at night to urinate
- You may urinate more often, or more than usual, with pale urine
- You may urinate less often or in smaller amounts than usual, with dark urine
- You may feel pressure or have trouble urinating
- Your urine may contain blood
Preliminary changes in urinary function are moderate signs of kidney problems, with the change in color being a sign of more serious damage that you don’t have to stop paying attention to.
Swelling in various parts of the body
The kidneys remove waste and excess fluid from the body, so when they do not work properly and are unable to perform this function, excess fluid builds up. This often causes swelling of the face, hands, legs, ankles, and feet. At this point, the kidney damage has become much more acute and must be treated immediately.
Fatigue and weakness
The kidneys make a hormone called erythropoietin , which helps make red blood cells that carry oxygen. When you have kidney disease, the levels of this hormone decrease, which causes a decrease in red blood cells in your body as a result of anemia.
This decreased delivery of oxygen to cells causes fatigue and general weakness, and should be treated quickly.
Causes of kidney damage
One of the main sources for a damaged kidney is through the heavy metal cadmium , which enters the environment mainly through the combustion of oil and coal and the incineration of municipal waste. Cadmium is also found in phosphate fertilizers that contaminates our food supply.
It is important to note that smokers directly inhale cadmium into their lungs, and they contain more than twice the amount of cadmium as non-smokers.
How to improve kidney function
There are several ways to improve kidney function through diet and lifestyle.
First of all, be sure not to smoke and avoid environments and products that contain excessive amounts of cadmium. Make sure to exercise, stay hydrated, and consume unsweetened cranberry juice daily. Cleaning the kidneys with parsley is highly recommended for its healing power as it is a powerful detoxifier of these organs. Prepare parsley tea, pestos, parsley waters, take it in juices and smoothies daily together with a healthy diet plan.
Also consider the support of herbs such as corn silk, juniper berries, uva ursi leaves, horsetail herb, burdock root, goldenrod flowers, and chancapiedra in your treatment for kidney disease.