Can you reverse kidney damage?

We might think we are getting rid of all the toxins in our body entirely as we exhale all the carbon dioxide through our nostrils, but the truth is our body requires a lot more purification than that. Our blood needs constant purification as well, and this is where our kidneys come into play. They are the most efficient filters of the waste in our blood and work to restore it to its purest state. They also act as regulators and keep a check on the levels of salt, water, minerals, body fluids, and electrolytes in our blood. The functions of our kidney are vital for our health and its conditions need to be preserved. 

There are quite a few causes for the deterioration of human kidneys. It is crucial to know about some of the common kidney diseases and their causes to be precautious. Since prevention is always better than cure its always a great idea to stay one step ahead.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

When the fundamental function of the kidney, which is detoxifying and ridding the blood of waste materials is hindered, it will consequently lead to the accumulation of unhealthy levels of toxins in our bloodstream. This is called Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) or Acute Kidney Failure. This disease can be caused by just a matter of hours or days. This condition could cause the blood to retain excess fluids, salt, waste materials, and electrolytes, than the safe and healthy limit determined for a human body. 

It commonly afflicts people who are in the hospital, getting treated for some serious illness, particularly patients admitted in the Intensive Care Units. They are more susceptible to this disease as they might be on high doses of drugs that could injure the kidney as a side effect or they might have some type of heart disease that in turn affect the blood pressure or the blood flow into the kidney.

Acute kidney failure can be identified through the following symptoms:

• Frequent exhaustion
• A decrease in urine output
• Anorexia 
• Seizures
• Hemorrhagic episodes
• Shortness of breath at unusual times
• Vomiting sensation
• Puffing up of parts of your legs
• Blood in your urine or stools
• A decline in appetite for food 
• The increasing loss of sensation in hands or legs
• Bad odor from the mouth
• Unstable states of mood
• Increase in blood pressure
• Pain in the chest 
• A feeling of pressure near the heart

The great news is that acute kidney failure can often be reversed and it depends on the underlying cause for the kidneys to start functioning again. For some, the kidneys start working again in a few weeks, whereas for some it takes months.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic Kidney Disease refers to permanent damage to the kidneys. This disease can lead to gradual degradation in the functionality of the kidney. It is a progressive loss of kidney function that occurs gradually over a period of time. It often goes undiagnosed untill it is far advanced. Some reasons why it occurs are, due to poor nutrition, hyperparathyroidism, hypertension, impaired concentrating ability of kidney, hypocalcemia, anemia, heart failure, and vitamin D deficiency.

There are 5 stages of CKD where stage 5 indicates kidney failure. Stage 3 is where most of the CKD is diagnosed based on the symptoms. While the CKD can't be reversed, one can prevent the worsening of kidney disease at this stage.

Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease are varied and include:

• Fatigue and lassitude
• Malaise, loss of energy
• Mental slowing and clouding of consciousness
• Myoclonic seizures 
• Bone pain due to metabolic bone disease
• Restless legs syndrome
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Paraesthesia due to polyneuropathy 
• Itching and rashes 
• Anorexia
• Drowsiness
• Hemorrhagic episodes
• Dyspnea
• Symptoms due to salt and water retention – peripheral or pulmonary edema

Although symptoms are very subtle in the beginning and almost unidentifiable, if a person is more prone to such chronic kidney diseases due to other prevailing diseases or genetic reasons, then they must take the initiative to get themselves checked and treat any cause that can be modified through medication. 

In Fine Fettle we would like to equip you with some fundamental tips to help those of you who are wondering, “How can I improve my kidney function?”.

Natural Remedies To Reverse Kidney Damage And Its Other Effects

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight 

Obesity and unnecessary fat accumulation in our body can lead to overworking our kidneys which in turn leads to kidney damage. It is of utmost importance to know our optimum weight and to maintain it. This can be accomplished by being conscious of our intake and our nutrition choices.

2. Phosphorous Balance 

Patients who suffer from renal impairments will have to control their phosphorous intake through their daily diet as their kidneys will not have the capacity of a healthy kidney to separate and excrete the excess phosphorous from the blood.

3. Limit Potassium 

People with kidney diseases should watch the level of potassium in their diet or in the medicines they take as their kidneys will not be able to regulate the level of potassium in their body which might lead to conditions like hyperkalemia that could cause difficulty in breathing, chest pain or rapid beating of the heart.

4. Protein 

If the patient is not on dialysis it is important to balance the level of protein intake in their diet.

5. Reduce Sodium Intake

Another component in our food that needs to be curbed is sodium. Sodium when not filtered by the kidney to be maintained at the right levels can cause swollen ankles, fluid around the heart and lungs, and an increase in blood pressure. Thus, it is of utmost importance to keep an eye on the amount of sodium that we consume through salts and sauces that we consume and keep it at a minimum.

6. Watch On The Fats 

When it comes to fats there are saturated and unsaturated fats. If we go overboard with our consumption of saturated fats it could lead to serious heart diseases that will affect the kidney as we know that patients with heart diseases are more vulnerable to kidney diseases.

7. Avoid Caffeine 

It causes high blood pressure which is an increased risk for kidney patients. Thus, it is best to avoid the intake of caffeine to protect the kidney from further damage.

8. Exercise Regularly

Exercising consistently can help improve the conditions of kidney patients by increasing their energy and overall physical state. Heavy lifting might not be recommended but instead, other activities like walking, etc can be done for a minimum of 30 minutes per day.

9. Manage Your Blood Sugar

When sugar levels go up it can cause damage to the kidney by clogging the filtering units in the kidney. This can damage the filtering capabilities of the kidney. 

10. Stop Smoking 

Smoking can cause blood clots, high blood pressure, and can affect the kidney as a result. It can also affect kidney function directly by increasing the risks of kidney cancer and increasing carbon monoxide in our body. Quitting smoking habit can reduce the acceleration of damage caused to the kidney and the patient will have better progress in recovery.

11. Fluid Retention

In CKD people need to be careful with the fluid intake. Fluid intake will be restricted to a certain limit as the kidneys cannot work properly, which in turn could lead to fluid build-up.

In general, it is always a good idea to follow a healthy and nutritious diet instead of unconsciously eating food that could cause more damage at all levels than good. It is especially important for kidney patients to follow a balanced diet and to keep track of the quantity of each component of food consumed and to regulate it at optimum and safe levels. One needs to avoid all types of junk food and commit to eating more plant-based food that has all the nutrients. required. Consumption of healthy fats is also very important.

A Word From Fine Fettle

These tips from Fine Fettle can help you keep your kidney healthy, prevent kidney disease, or even reverse your kidney damage. The most important thing to do is to eat right, stay active, and follow a healthy lifestyle. Also, ensure that you follow your doctor's advice for treating and slowing down the progression of your kidney problems.