World Kidney Day is a health awareness campaign recognized worldwide that highlights the importance of kidneys and raising awareness to reduce the impact and frequency of kidney disease.
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs located in the middle of our backs against our back muscles, with one on either side of our spine. The kidneys filter out any harmful waste and excess toxins, while balancing blood pressure and essential nutrients. Kidneys perform several functions within our bodies:
- Removing waste compounds through urine
- Producing life-saving hormones
- Producing red blood cells
- Controlling blood pressure
- Producing vitamin D
- Making immune system stronger
- Making bones and teeth stronger
- Producing proteins that make cells and tissues stronger
- Filtering blood from toxins and other compounds, etc.
When an individual suffers from kidney disease, it affects the kidney functions mentioned above.
Damaged kidneys do not filter out and remove the waste compounds from the body. Hence, several fluids can start accumulating inside your body. Once the level of fluids rises, it doesn’t just affect the kidneys, but other organs inside the body, including lungs, heart, etc.
DID YOU KNOW? In the Turks and Caicos Islands, several persons are undertaking dialysis (a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly) due to harmful effects of high blood pressure and/or high blood sugar on the kidneys.
Kidney function tests measure how well your kidneys are working. Kidney tests usually involve a blood test, 24-hour urine test or both. Speak to your doctor about getting a test done today!
