The kidneys do a continuous mighty manner in which you constantly filter waste and maintain fluid balance, and the kidneys may pass healthy symptoms that are not observed until after they worsen, especially with age.
Kidney performance can decrease naturally over time, such as many body functions, which increases the possibility of some diseases.
The challenge lies in its silent development often, usually the problems develop slowly and without clear symptoms, which facilitates their ignorance until it exacerbates.
What are the most common kidney problems in the elderly? How can it be prevented?
Fiona Laud, Director of Policy at the Kidney Care UK, shed light on 3 common kidney problems that affect the elderly frequently.
Chronic kidney disease
Despite the possibility of any age, it is more common among those over the age of 60, according to the UK’s kidney care.
This is partly due to the fact that kidney function tends to decline with age. This decline is a natural part of the aging process, and the decline rate may vary from person to person.
“The kidneys filter your blood every minute of the day, help in regulating blood pressure, supporting bone health, and forming red blood cells, but kidney function, like most body functions, gradually decline with our age,” Fiona explains to the British newspaper The Independent.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are among the most common causes of chronic kidney disease.
“If you suffer from any of these two cases, with the passage of time, this can cause additional pressure on the blood vessels in your kidneys, which may negatively affect kidney function,” says Viona.
Chronic kidney disease develops across 5 stages, but it may be difficult to discover early because it often does not cause noticeable symptoms.
Fiona notes that “kidney disease is often described as a quiet condition, because its symptoms are often not specified in its early stages. However, common symptoms that appear later appear fatigue and shortness of breath, which are symptoms that may appear due to other cases as well.”
Other symptoms of chronic kidney disease (usually appear during the advanced stages) include losing weight and weak appetite, swelling of the ankles, feet or hands, swelling of the face, the presence of blood in the urine, increased need for urination (especially at night), difficulty sleeping, itchy skin, muscle cramps or weakness, and a feeling of nausea or headache.
Acute kidney
“The elderly are more likely to develop chronic and acute kidney disease,” says Viona.
For example, persistent urinary tract infections, an acute intestinal disorder or infection may lead to an acute kidney injury.
Long -term use of some medications
“It may have a very long -term use of non -steroidal anti -inflammatory, such as ibuprofen, a negative effect on your kidneys.”
According to the National Kidney Foundation in the United States, high doses of non -steroidal anti -inflammatory can be harmful to the kidneys. The Foundation’s website states that people with poor kidney function, heart disease, or high blood pressure should avoid using non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs only under the supervision of a doctor.
How do you maintain your college?
Keep your body moisture
Drinking kidney water helps to get rid of waste, and prevents the formation of harmful crystals and stones that may lead to kidney problems.
“Keep your body moisture well, and pay attention to your urine,” says Viona.
Dark urine color indicates not to drink enough water, and if its color is light, this is a good indication.
Check your college annually
“If you have diabetes or you suffer from high blood pressure, you must perform an annual kidney examination, but even if you are not infected with these diseases, you are concerned about the health of your kidneys, you can visit your general doctor and ask for tests,” she added.
Talk to your doctor about medications
“In addition to non -steroidal medications, there are some antibiotics that are less harmful to the kidneys, so patients with chronic kidney failure should review their doctors to make sure that the prescribed medications are suitable for them,” says Viona.
Follow a balanced diet and reduce salt
A balanced diet can help maintain blood pressure and cholesterol at health levels.
Fiona recommends: “Try to eat healthy food by eating a lot of vegetables because this is useful for the heart and blood vessels, salt makes the kidneys work with more effort, and this pressure can gradually accumulate, so it is advised to follow a low -salt diet.”
Check your blood pressure regularly
High blood pressure is the second main cause of kidney failure after diabetes, so it is necessary to discover this early and control it so that the disease does not develop.
“In many pharmacies and public clinics, Viona says, allowing you to visit a doctor easily and check your blood pressure,” says Viona.
Move your body
Physical activity is very important to maintain kidney health, as it helps to control the factors associated with kidney disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.