Have you ever taken the trash out and your garbage man decided not to show up? This could lead to trash piling up while you’re waiting for someone to take it away! This feeling is comparable to what happens when you do not take care of your kidneys. Just like the trash, your body starts to accumulate waste products that can become harmful if not properly filtered and removed by healthy kidneys. Kidney health is essential to the body in many ways. Read on and explore the impact your kidneys have on your overall health.
Your Body’s Natural Way of Detoxing
Throughout the day, your kidneys are hard at work! They filter your blood and remove excess waste and water from the bloodstream constantly. Impressively, the kidneys process over 30 gallons of water and waste daily. But where does all the waste go after filtration? Most of the fluid is returned to the body, while a portion of the waste is expelled through urination. This process is vital in maintaining your overall health by naturally cleansing the body.
Impact on Blood Pressure
While diving into the impact kidneys have on your overall health, it’s important to discuss the connection between the kidneys and cardiovascular health. One significant condition regarding this connection is called Renal Hypertension. This condition is caused by high blood pressure narrowing arteries in the body. When the arteries become narrow it becomes more difficult for blood to flow properly to the kidneys. The kidneys become confused because they aren’t getting enough blood to filter through. In response to the lack of blood flow, the kidneys produce a hormone that is known to elevate blood pressure levels. This condition shows the vital role that the kidneys have on one major system in the body.
Balancing pH Levels & Electrolytes
Your kidneys also play a vital role in balancing the body’s pH levels to ensure cells in the body function optimally. As the kidneys filter blood, they continuously monitor the acidity and alkalinity. If blood becomes too acidic or too alkaline, the kidneys adjust by either excreting or retaining hydrogen and bicarbonate ions to restore balance. If the kidneys are not able to function properly an imbalance can occur which could lead to Metabolic Acidosis. This is when the kidneys are unable to balance the acidity of the blood.
Protecting Your Kidney Health
There are many different ways to protect your kidneys to ensure their benefits to your overall wellbeing. The steps to maintaining proper kidney function are to:
- Exercise regularly
- Stay hydrated
- Limit processed foods in your diet
- Increase fresh food intake
- Monitor blood pressure and blood sugar levels
Making good lifestyle choices is essential to keeping the kidneys functioning properly.
Our Role in Kidney Care
At Southwoods Health, we believe in providing high quality services to patients in the Mahoning Valley who experience trouble maintaining their kidney health. If you believe you are currently dealing with kidney-related issues and symptoms, reach out to your primary care physician. If you don’t have a primary care physician, Southwoods Health has a network of over 30 PCPs in 17 locations across the Mahoning Valley. Visit https://www.southwoodshealth.com/primary-care/ for more information.
