What your kidneys do for you
Your two kidneys filter waste and excess water from the blood, balance salts and minerals, help regulate blood pressure, produce the hormone that tells your body to make red blood cells, and keep your bones healthy by activating vitamin D.
You can lose a great deal of kidney function before feeling anything — which is why kidney disease is often discovered late, at a stage when dialysis or transplant may be the only options.
The biggest risks to your kidneys
The commonest causes of kidney disease in our environment include:
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes — the leading causes worldwide
- Frequent use of painkillers, especially unsupervised combinations of analgesics
- Recurrent or untreated urinary tract and pelvic infections
- Certain herbal mixtures and unregulated 'detox' or weight-loss products
- Chronic dehydration and untreated kidney stones
- Family history of kidney disease
Early warning signs
See a doctor if you notice swelling of the face, legs or ankles; frothy or blood-stained urine; passing urine more often at night; persistent tiredness and pallor; loss of appetite with nausea; or a sudden drop in urine output during illness. These signs deserve a proper kidney check — not a wait-and-see approach.
Simple ways to protect your kidneys
Your kidneys respond well to steady, sensible care:
- Control blood pressure and blood sugar — and know your numbers
- Drink enough water through the day, especially in our heat
- Avoid self-prescribing painkillers and unprescribed herbal remedies
- Treat urinary infections promptly and completely
- Have a yearly kidney screen (creatinine, urea, urinalysis) if you have hypertension, diabetes or a family history
- Never take medication — any medication — without knowing the correct dose
Screening at our diagnostic centre
A kidney profile takes only a blood and urine sample, with results the same day. If you are living with hypertension or diabetes, ask your doctor to include a kidney check in your routine reviews — it is one of the simplest tests with one of the biggest payoffs.
This article is for general information only and does not replace a consultation. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms discussed, please speak with a doctor.
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