National Kidney Month: Why Kidney Health Matters

I must admit, I don’t think about my own kidneys very frequently, if at all. I suspect most people similarly ignore this vital organ and its health. However, around 37 million people in the United States suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), the great majority are unaware there is a disease process afflicting them. As a society, we spend a great deal of time and energy on heart health and brain health, but how do we keep our kidneys healthy? Why do they matter anyway??

The kidneys are the principal way the body maintains the delicate balance of electrolytes, fluid and wastes in the blood stream. CKD typically happens when the kidneys gradually stop functioning. As this happens, waste and excess fluid starts to accumulate in the body. Early stages often go unnoticed because of the kidney’s amazing ability to compensate, so disease is typically discovered in routine blood or urine tests. Later symptoms include urinating more or less often, bloody or foamy urine, puffiness around the eyes or swollen feet, muscle cramps, dry/itchy skin, fatigue and difficulty sleeping. ?

Most CKD is caused by long-standing diabetes, where excess sugar causes damage to the small blood vessels in the kidneys. The other main cause is high blood pressure, where the blood vessels constrict reducing blood flow to the kidneys. Once the kidneys experience a certain amount of damage, it often progresses to kidney failure. At Healthfirst, understand the importance of healthy kidney function and help our members prevent serious illness. For example, my colleagues and I facilitate a diabetes program so we can help pre-diabetics and diabetics live healthier lives.?

Given the progressive nature of the disease, there is no quick and easy way to prevent chronic kidney disease. A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies involving over 600,000 adults did indicate that a healthy dietary pattern (diets typically high in whole grains, vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, and fish, with lower intake of red and processed meats, sodium, and sugar sweetened beverages) was associated with lower risk of developing CKD over an average of 10.4 years of follow-up. This adds to the growing body of evidence that nutrition is one of the biggest modifiable risk factors for most chronic conditions, along with regular exercise and weight maintenance. Thus, the best way to care for your kidneys is to maintain a healthy lifestyle starting with creating good habits in childhood onward. ??

Speaking of children, CKD does also occur in children, though it is less frequently discussed. The causes are quite different in childhood, with congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract being the leading cause in young children and nephritis, or inflammatory conditions, as the primary cause for older children. However, with the increasing number of very preterm infants surviving into childhood and adulthood, the changes in kidney structure caused by this extreme prematurity is becoming a more prominent cause of childhood CKD.? Additionally, the rising incidence of obesity in early childhood could lead to increasing rates of CKD in childhood due to diabetes and high blood pressure as well.??

Childhood CKD symptoms are similar to those of adults though they are often not recognized until late, as with adults. ?Additionally, children do not often pay attention to their urinary habits unless they are particularly bothersome, so small changes in frequency, color of urine and other signs of impaired kidney function are missed. ?Once children are out of diapers, parents must try to maintain an awareness of their child’s bodily functions.?

During National Kidney Month this March, we encourage you to take this time to focus on your forgotten kidneys and what you can do to prevent kidney disease for yourself and your family.?

Helpful Resources

National Kidney Month 2022 | NIDDK (nih.gov)

Bach, K. et al. Healthy Dietary Patterns and Incidence of CKD: A meta-analysis of cohort studies. CJASN 14: 1441–1449, 2019. 1441.full.pdf (asnjournals.org)

Becherucci, F. et al. Chronic kidney disease in children. Clinical Kidney Journal, 2016, vol 9, no 4, 583-591.