Facts About Renal Diseases

You should have heard about excretory system diseases, but you might not know much about it. So, fortunately, this article will inform you about it.

Firstly, the excretory system is a biological system that removes waste from your body as an organism. The system is made up of different organs, i.e., several organs made up of the excretory system. The organs include the liver, the kidneys, the skin, and the sweat glands.

The Liver

This organ is located at the upper right-hand portion. It has the shape of a cone. It has a dark reddish-brown color.

This organ has several functions which include:

• Production of bile
• Production of specific proteins for blood plasma
• Production of cholesterol
• The conversion of excess glucose into glycogen
• Regulation of blood levels of amino acids
• Storage of iron
• Regulate blood clotting
• Cleaning your blood of drugs and other poisonous substances
• Conversion of poisonous ammonia in your body to urea.

The Kidney

The kidneys pairs are two beans shaped organ.

Functions of the kidney include:

• Maintaining total body fluid balance.
• Responsible for the production of a red blood cell.
• Regulation of your blood pressure
• Promotion of your bone health
• Removal of toxic substance from drug and food
• Filtering of waste and excess fluid from your blood

The Skin

The human flesh is the largest excretory organ that performs different functions. The colors vary from one person to the other due to melanin’s presence (a pigment that gives the skin its colors). The human flesh has two layers, which are the dermis (the inner layer of the skin and this layer has the connective tissues) and the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin).

The function of the skin

• It also maintains your body fluid balance
• Regulation of your body temperature
• It protects you against microbial attack
• It is used to communicate to you, i.e., warn of heat, cold, mechanical injury, and infestation.

The Sweat Glands

The sweat glands are coiled tubular structures in the dermis layer of the skin. It secretes a watery fluid. It helps in the thermoregulatory mechanism of your body.

Functions of Sweat Glands

Its function is to keep your body temperature in place, i.e., 37 degrees Celsius, by releasing sweats whenever you are in a warm environment.

Kidney Disease

The excretory system disease does not just show up all of a sudden. The disease is a result of the disorder in the elimination of nitrogenous wastes from your body. So this leads to the accumulation of nitrogenous wastes in your body, leading to various excretory system diseases.

Basically, the common excretory system disease happens to the renal or urinary system. The renal system is also referred to as the urinary system. It is where urine is formed, including the kidney, bladder, urethra (the passage for urine), and ureter.

Types of Renal Diseases

Chronic Kidney Disease

This is the most common renal disease. It is also caused by high blood pressure. It affects your glomeruli by adding more pressure to it. The primary cause is diabetes. The increase in the sugar level in your blood causes damage to the blood vessels in your kidney. This disease will prevent your kidney from performing its functions effectively.

Kidney Stones

This is also a very common renal disease. Kidney stones form from the crystallization of mineral and other substances in your blood inside your kidney. The crystallization results in the formation of solid mass known as a stone. This disease makes urination difficult and extremely painful for you.

Glomerulonephritis

From the name, it is a disease that affects the glomeruli. Glomeruli play an essential role in the kidney by filtering the blood in your kidney. They are small structures. It alters the filtering function of the kidney.

Polycystic Kidney Disease

This disease can be inherited; it causes the various cyst to grow in your kidney. These cysts affect the functions leading to kidney failure. A cyst is a tiny sac of fluid.

Urinary Tract Infections

This is an infection caused by bacterial. It only affects your urinary system. It affects the urethra and bladder. If you notice any urinary tract infections, you should visit a medical practitioner before its spread. If urinary tract infections are not taken care of, they tend to spread to the kidney and may cause kidney failure as well.

Symptoms of Renal Disease

Most of these diseases are not easily noticed until the sign becomes severe. So I will implore you to watch out for these symptoms, and they include:

• Inadequate sleep
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Lack of concentration
• Dry skin and scaly skin
• Seizures
• Shortness of breath resulting in asthma
• Muscle cramp or twitching
• Metallic taste in your mouth
• Swollen eyes
• Frequent urination
• Inflammation of the pericardium
• Vomiting and nausea
• The decrease in red blood cell; anemia
• Decrease in libido
• Increase in potassium levels; hyperkalemia

Causes and Risk Factors of Renal Disease

Most of the renal diseases are caused due to damages caused to the nephron in the kidney. The nephron can be damaged by diabetes and high blood pressure. So, the significant causes of kidney damage are diabetes and high blood pressure. It can also be caused by dehydration, infections, and blood loss.

Renal disease has many risk factors associated with it. Some of the factors include:

• Smoking
• Gene
• Obesity
• Kidney cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney infection
• Kidney stones
• Vesicoureteral reflux
• Bladder obstruction
• Liver failure
• Cirrhosis

Treatment of Renal Disease

• Dialysis

This is one of the most treatment recommended for people that are with minor kidney problems. Dialysis generally means a treatment that filters and cleans your blood. Dialysis is divided into two types: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis is a method that uses a machine to clean your blood. It is the most regular dialysis treatment. While peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of your abdomen to filter your blood. From the name peritoneal, it was coined from the word peritoneum. (Peritoneum is the lining of your gut).

• Kidney Transplant

This method of treatment involves surgery. The affected kidney is removed and replaced with another kidney from your donor. The kidney to be used can either be a deceased kidney (the kidney from a dead person, cadaver) or a living kidney (the kidney from a live person). The recipient and the donor must be of the same blood group.

• Watch Your Weight

Diabetes and high blood pressure increase your risk of having kidney failure. I will implore you to go on a weight management journey to reduce the risk of kidney problems.

• Regular exercise

• Healthy Diet

Always consume a portion of healthy food and a diet high in fruit. Vegetables must be included in your diet. Slow down on your intake of salt, sugar, and fats.

• Avoid smoking and limit your alcohol intake.
• Drink enough water
• Avoid stress.

If you are a kidney disease patient, it is recommended for you to avoid foods that contain;

Sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. Sodium is a component of salt, and it cannot be filtered by a damaged kidney.

Potassium intake must be reduced for you to avert an uncontrolled rise in blood level.

Phosphorus and protein also must be limited for a damaged kidney.

Here are foods medically recommended for you:

• Cauliflower
• Blueberries
• Red grapes
• Egg whites
• Sea bass
• Garlic
• Buckwheat
• Olive oil
• Cabbages
• Bell peppers
• Onions
• Radish
• Pineapple
• Cranberries
• Apple
• Plums
• Peaches
• Celery
• Beans

In addition, if you notice any renal or urinary disease, you can save yourself from the pain by visiting a doctor on time. On the other hand, make sure you drink enough water at all times to get rid of waste products from your body. One of the ways your body is always in good condition is due to your good functioning excretory system.

Your health is your life. Your lifestyle determines your health. Your body function because of its ability to keep itself clean at all times. As it is morally said, “your health is your wealth.”