After working with several patients at the Absolute Urgent Care clinic, I’m calling all to respect our kidneys as they are truly amazing organs of the human body. These small structures continue to do their job by keeping us healthy, but they can always use some help. The piece that I am going to discuss with you today is detecting the first manifestations of kidney diseases and deciding when to go for a check-up.
What Do Our Kidneys Do?
Firstly, let’s dig deeper into the kidneys that are described as the bean-shaped organs. Our kidneys can be seen as the workers of our bodies, as they act as the ‘cleaners’ and remove the waste products from the blood, maintain our body fluid balance, and also regulate blood pressure. The anatomy and functionality of these major organs are quite an art, aren’t they?
Early Warning Signs of Kidney Problems
Let’s start off with the list of symptoms that could be the alarms that display when our kidneys need some help:
1. Changes in Urination
There are discrepancies between bathroom habits that you’re experiencing that you may have noticed. Therefore, there may be differences, such as whether your viscosity is lower, higher or your urine looks different, e.g. maximum power and even blood. The aforementioned scenarios are the signs that can be taken as early danger signals that the kidneys are not functioning well.
2. Swelling
Your kidneys might be swelling and gaining more fluid if your feet, ankles, hands, or face are looking bloated.
3. Fatigue
Have you been feeling more tired than usual recently? This is because the kidneys are not functioning properly, thus the toxic materials that are normally in the blood get accumulated and thus you feel faint.
4. Skin Rashes
Our skin is already another place where kidneys can make their presence known. If you are showing some rough, itchy, or any kind of rash that is not making any sense, just do yourself a favor and go to the doctor’s office.
5. Metallic Taste in Mouth
This might be unusual, but some kidney patients report a metallic taste in their mouth, which is due to the deposition of waste substances in the bloodstream.
6. Nausea and Vomiting
When our kidneys don’t clean our waste thoroughly, we often find it hard to breathe normally.
7. Shortness of Breath
Watching your breath go faster and faster as if you were riding a bike full throttle right after doing high-intensity exercise might very well point to kidney trouble. They are engaged daily in the tasks involved in red blood cell production, which in turn helps carry/transfer oxygen throughout our bodies.
Risk Factors for Kidney Problems
For some people, kidney diseases are just a part of their life. Here are a few things that could increase the chance of developing such problems:
- Having diabetes
- Elevated blood pressure
- Heart illness
- Your blood relatives had kidney disease.
- Being over 60 years of age
- Having excess weight
If any of these apply to you, ensure that you track all the symptoms we previously mentioned closely.
When Should You Seek Help?
If you happen to notice any of the symptoms, especially if you have risk factors, it’s time for you to make that call and opt for a check-up. In fact, the staff at the Absolute Urgent Care clinic are there at all times to offer you their expertise. The best way to eliminate kidney problems is through early detection that allows for proper treatment of the disease without too much hassle. So, if you are likely to contract kidney diseases, it is important that you take the prevention measures.
What to Expect at Your Check-up
Here are the things that will be done when you are tested for kidney health:
- Two trained beef will be a part of your consultation team. We will inquire about your symptoms and past medical records.
- We might need to do some procedures, such as a physical examination of your body parts.
- We expect to be able to draw your blood for some research too, as well as tests on your urine and other fluids.
- After that, a determination is made as to if you need further tests, and if so, you will be referred to a kidney specialist.
Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy
In the case you are not exhibiting symptoms, there are some practices that can be helpful in promoting the wellness of your kidneys, for example:
- Remember to keep your cells hydrated and consume enough water.
- Likewise, eat a balanced diet by keeping salt at low levels.
- Work out regularly
- Refueling your body with vital fluids but not allowing any smoke to get into your mouth are also viable options.
- Being selective in alcohol intake and averting the risks of overusing it in your system is one of the ways to prevent kidney, negative effects.
- It is necessary to monitor the manifestations of diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure to avoid any further complications.
Importance of Regular Check-ups
The early diagnosis of kidney problems / disease is an essential part of regular health checks. Most adults are usually advised to go for general check-ups at Absolute Urgent Care annually, while those who have risk factors may visit more often.
How Absolute Urgent Care Can Help
We at Absolute Urgent Care are at your service to help you keep healthy and fit. We are offering you the possibility of a one-stop examination and test-taking: our team is experienced in identifying the signs of kidney trouble early and can advise you on the proper way forward if needed.
Don’t Ignore Your Symptoms
Therefore, apart from the fact that our bodies communicate with us that there is something wrong, we also need to pay heed to these signs. These are the symptoms that I previously described and addressed. So, for sure, do not be just disregarding them. It is without a doubt easier to go and have a checkup that knows nothing is wrong than it is to fix a real future problem that could have been simple.
Our bodies are very much dependent on our kidneys that work every second. Through recognizing the subtle flag and taking the time to be attentive the way our body expects us to, the likelihood of kidney diseases becomes significantly lower. If you are concerned about your kidney health then there could be no better place for you than Absolute Urgent Care to come and check it out. We are the place to keep you well and find underlying problems long before they show.
Remember that your health is the domain of you as an expert; it is your body and you are the boss. You really would do well to shift your personal compass to the north, and if something is not in the right space, correct it quickly. By all measures, enable your kidneys to perform better!
