What are the most common habits that threaten kidney health?

Acıbadem Kayseri Hospital Urology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tolga Tombul pointed out that obesity, alcohol, and smoking threaten kidney health, stating, "If kidney health is compromised, our body may give signals such as severe pain or blood in the urine. Sometimes it shows no symptoms. Therefore, regular check-ups are very important."

CONSUMING ADEQUATE WATER IS IMPORTANT

Tombul stated that the kidneys are responsible for removing toxins and waste products from the body through urine, and emphasized that one of the most important conditions for the kidneys to work properly and healthily in the long term is that the kidneys "receive an adequate amount of water."

Pointing out that kidney failure can occur if fluid consumption is insufficient, Tombul said, "Especially during these Ramadan days we are in, one point that should be paid attention to is that long periods of dehydration seriously affect kidney health. It is necessary to ensure adequate water consumption between iftar and suhoor to ensure the kidneys work effectively."

''TOXIN ACCUMULATION IN THE BLOOD CAN LEAD TO KIDNEY FAILURE''

Stating that the vast majority of daily fluid intake should be consumed as 'water', Tombul said, "When we consume little water, the kidneys will not be able to produce enough urine and will not be able to remove enough toxins and waste products from the body. This will cause toxins to accumulate in the blood and eventually lead to what we call kidney failure. Therefore, one of the most important steps in protecting kidney health is to ensure regular and adequate fluid consumption. The second is to achieve and maintain regular exercise and a normal weight."

"IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PREVENT OBESITY"

Expressing that kidney problems can also be seen through urine, Tombul said, "Another important factor is that in order to prevent cancer in the long term and for the kidneys to work effectively in the long run, it is necessary to stay away from obesity, tobacco, and alcohol. When we say obesity, we must prevent excess weight. We must prevent chronic, addiction-level alcohol and tobacco use. Since these cause vascular damage in the kidneys and affect their function, as well as increase the risk of future cancer development—and since the treatment for a kidney that has developed cancer involves partial or complete removal—adopting a lifestyle that is free from tobacco and alcohol, ensures regular movement, and provides adequate water consumption, not just in later years but early in life, is necessary for long-term kidney health."

"SEVERE KIDNEY PAIN OR BLOOD IN THE URINE MAY OCCUR"

Touching upon the situations in which the kidneys give signals, Tombul said, "Especially from a urological perspective, if there is an obstruction in the production and transmission of urine by the kidney, it can manifest itself with severe flank pain on the side where the kidney is not producing urine, blood in the urine, a decrease in the amount of urine produced, or an inability to produce urine at a sufficient concentration."

Stating that kidney problems can sometimes progress silently without showing any symptoms, Tombul said the following:

"That is why we would like to emphasize the importance of regular health check-ups once again. In other words, if you have high blood pressure, weight issues, or use cigarettes and alcohol in your life, we strongly recommend checking your kidney values with annual check-ups, blood counts, and kidney function tests."