Your kidneys and the circulatory system work in conjunction with each other to support the good health of the body. The kidneys help eliminate waste from the blood, and they use a number of blood vessels for separating the harmful substances from the blood.
When the blood vessels in the body get damaged because of high blood pressure (It is the rate at which the blood flows against the blood vessels), the nephrons don’t receive an adequate amount of oxygen and nutrients to function well. It is why; high blood pressure is called to be the second leading cause of kidney failure. Hypertension for a time long can damage the arteries around the kidneys and make them narrow or harden. Such damage to the arteries may not allow the blood to deliver to the tissues, causing umpteen sets of complications in the body.
How does your kidney work?
The kidneys are a pair of organs that are located below the ribs. Their primary function is to support the filtration process of the blood, help in the production of RBCs, producing Vitamin D, and maintain the blood pressure rate by regulating fluid balance in the body.
By regulating how much fluid the body should retain, the kidneys help to control the level of blood pressure in the body. Of chance, the kidneys fail or damaged. The fluid level may become imbalanced, causing various life-threatening problems; one of them is the blood pressure.
This means, if you have high blood pressure, then you are at high risk of kidney disease and if you get kidney disease, the blood pressure increases ultimately. High blood pressure creates a vicious cycle with kidney disease that ends with renal failure.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure and kidney disease?
Most people with high blood pressure during CKD, have fluid retention, which can cause various symptoms in the body, such as:
• Swelling in the upper and lower body
• Puffiness around the eyes
• Appetite loss
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Drowsiness or feeling tired
• Trouble concentrating
• Sleep problems
• Increased or decreased urination
• Blood in the urine
• Foamy urine
• Generalized itching or numbness
• Dry skin
• Headaches
• Weight loss
• Darkened skin
• Muscle cramps
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
What are the ways through which you can diagnose high blood pressure and kidney problems?
A health care provider diagnoses high blood pressure with the help of a machine, which is often repeated several times. Systolic blood pressure is consistently above 140 or diastolic blood pressure is consistently above 90.
Tests to measure kidney function
Urine tests: The purpose of the urine test is to check for the waste in the blood and if any nutrient that should be in the blood is present in the urine.
Blood tests: If your blood has waste that should be eliminated, the kidneys are known to be diseased. With the help of the blood tests, GFR is calculated. The glomerular filtration rate is a test done to understand the remaining function. The results of GFR are classified as:
• eGFR of 60 or above is in the normal range
• eGFR below 60 may indicate kidney damage
• eGFR of 15 or below may indicate kidney failure
Preventing the kidneys by managing blood pressure
Kidney disease due to high blood pressure is a long process that takes years to develop. But, you can limit your risk by controlling your blood pressure. This can be done by maintaining a healthy diet plan, reducing weight, reducing sodium intake, and doing exercise.
For more information about kidney failure and their important causes, you can also contact Karma Ayurveda
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