By Dr. Michael Baah Biney
A young boy once had a severe throat infection. At first it looked like a simple illness. After a few days the fever settled and everyone assumed he was fine. But a few weeks later something unusual began to happen. His urine started looking dark, almost like tea and sometimes reddish. His parents became worried and rushed him to the hospital. After several tests, doctors realized that his kidneys had been affected.
Many people are surprised when they hear stories like this. Kidney disease is often thought to appear suddenly in adulthood, but in reality, it usually develops slowly over time. Sometimes the trigger may have happened years earlier. The encouraging news, however, is that many kidney diseases can be prevented when people understand the causes and take the right steps early.
Common Causes of Kidney Disease
Kidney disease rarely happens overnight. In many cases it develops gradually when certain health conditions are not detected early or are not properly managed.
Uncontrolled Hypertension
Hypertension, commonly called high blood pressure, is one of the leading causes of kidney disease. But it is important to understand something reassuring. It is not simply having hypertension that damages the kidneys. The real danger is uncontrolled hypertension.
Many people live healthy lives with high blood pressure when it is detected early and managed properly with medication and regular hospital reviews. The danger occurs when someone has high blood pressure for years without knowing it, or when medications are not taken consistently. When blood pressure remains high for a long time, it slowly damages the delicate filtering structures inside the kidneys.
Diabetes
Diabetes is another major cause of kidney disease. But diabetes itself does not automatically destroy the kidneys. The real problem occurs when blood sugar levels remain high over many years without proper control.
Persistently high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels inside the kidneys. As these blood vessels become injured, the kidneys begin to lose their filtering ability. Doctors refer to this as diabetic kidney disease (Kimmelstiel–Wilson disease). Early diagnosis, proper medication, healthy eating and regular monitoring can protect the kidneys for many years.
Chronic Use of Pain Medications (NSAIDs)
Another cause that many people overlook is the frequent use of pain medications, especially a group known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly called NSAIDs. These medications reduce pain by blocking chemicals responsible for inflammation. However, those same chemicals also help keep the blood vessels supplying the kidneys open.
When these chemicals are blocked repeatedly for long periods, blood flow to the kidneys can reduce and kidney cells may become damaged. Studies have shown that NSAID use is associated with kidney injury, sometimes appearing within the first month of continuous use according to pharmacology studies indexed in PubMed.
There is a simple clue that can help people recognize many of these medications. Some NSAIDs end with “fen”, such as ibuprofen or ketoprofen, while others end with “ac”, such as diclofenac. These medications can be safe when used correctly, but they should not be taken continuously without medical supervision.
Being Born with One Kidney
Some people are born with only one kidney, a condition known medically as renal agenesis. Many individuals may never realize this because a single kidney can function well enough to support the body. However, if that kidney later becomes affected by conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or medication injury, there is no second kidney to help compensate.
Infections (Throat Infections and Malaria)
Certain infections can also affect the kidneys. In children, severe throat infections may trigger immune reactions that inflame the kidneys. Other infections such as severe malaria can also damage the kidneys, particularly when treatment is delayed. This is why persistent throat infections or fever in children should not be managed repeatedly with self-medication. Early medical care is important.
Lifestyle Issues
Lifestyle habits can quietly contribute to kidney damage. Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and prolonged use of unregulated herbal preparations may place stress on the kidneys over time. Herbal medicine itself is not necessarily harmful, but taking unknown mixtures continuously without professional guidance can be risky.
Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
Kidney disease often develops silently, but some warning signs may appear. Swelling of the face in the morning that improves later in the day is one possible sign. Swelling of the feet may also occur. Some people notice their urine becoming dark, reddish or tea-colored. Others urinate less frequently than usual, lose weight unexpectedly or develop increasing abdominal swelling.
These symptoms should never be ignored, because early medical attention can prevent serious complications.
Prevention: Protecting Your Kidneys Early
The most effective way to protect the kidneys is prevention. Regular blood pressure checks help detect hypertension early. Routine blood sugar testing helps identify diabetes before complications develop.
Taking medications as prescribed, avoiding prolonged self-medication with painkillers and seeking early treatment for infections all help protect kidney health. Limiting alcohol consumption, avoiding smoking and using herbal preparations only under professional guidance can also reduce risk.
Kidney disease can be serious, but it is often preventable. Many cases occur not because the disease was unavoidable, but because warning signs were missed or treatment came too late. With awareness, early diagnosis and responsible health decisions, people can protect their kidneys and maintain good health for many years.
Dr. Biney is a global health advocate and youth educator who writes on health, and social development in Ghana. He works with communities to promote good health(public health) responsible sexual education and youth empowerment.
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Dr Michael Baah Biney
The post Protecting your kidneys appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.
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