Suspected kidney disease if you have leg cramps and pee often...Special attention to diabetics and hypertension patients at Himchan Hospital
Mar 13, 2025
|
The kidney is a filter factory in the body that removes waste from our body and controls the amount of moisture and salt in the body, electrolyte, and acid and base balance. If the kidney does not function properly for a long time, it progresses to chronic kidney disease (chronic kidney failure), and the disease itself is dangerous, but special care should be taken because it can cause various life-threatening complications.
If the function of the kidneys decreases continuously for more than 3 months, it is diagnosed as chronic kidney disease. About 8.4% of the adult population in Korea is suffering, and the number of patients is steadily increasing with aging.
According to data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of patients more than doubled from 157,583 in 2014 to 326,736 in 2023, a decade later. If chronic kidney disease progresses, complications of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction can lead to life in critical condition. In particular, developing end-stage heart failure may require dialysis or kidney transplantation.
Lee Ji-eun, director of the Department of Nephrology at Incheon Himchan General Hospital, said "Chronic kidney disease is a disease in which the kidneys are gradually damaged and function is lost, and it is difficult to recognize because there are few symptoms in the beginning."It is important to check whether the kidneys are functioning properly with regular glomerular filtration rate tests in the elderly with high prevalence rates."
◇ Diabetes, high blood pressure, glomerulonephritis, etc. are the main causes
Kidney is an organ that is difficult to recover once it worsens and is caused by various causes affecting the kidney.
Diabetes and hypertension account for 60-70% of all patients. In addition, chronic urinary tract obstruction due to glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, autoimmune disease, stones and prostate hypertrophy, infections caused by repeated pyelonephritis and renal tuberculosis, and the use of nephrotoxic drugs are also the causes.
There are no symptoms in the early stages, but they gradually appear as the function declines, and chronic kidney disease can be suspected if you feel tired, have no energy, have poor appetite, have cramps in your legs, and urinate frequently, especially if night urination is repeated. Along with this, the body starts with the feet and ankles, legs, and in severe cases, swelling of the whole body. Urine color may turn dark red, bubbles may be maintained for a long time, and headaches may occur as blood pressure rises.
Chronic kidney disease is classified into 1 to 5 stages according to the degree of decreased kidney function based on the glomerular filtration rate.
Stage 1 is a normal function, but signs of damage appear with other indicators or symptoms, and stage 2 is a mildly decreased state of function, along with other signs of damage. Stage 3 is a moderate decline in function, and various complications begin to occur, and stage 4 is a severe decline in function, worsening complications such as anemia, bones, and mineral diseases. The last five stages are terminal and require dialysis or transplantation.
In the treatment of chronic kidney disease, finding and treating the causative disease is a priority. After that, it will proceed with medication along with improving lifestyle. Drug treatment aims to slow kidney function loss and nephrotoxic drugs should be avoided. When it becomes terminal, normal life becomes impossible due to nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing, and surgery such as dialysis treatment and kidney transplantation is required.
◇ 81.5% of patients in their 60s or older...Regular checkups are important for early detection
Since kidneys are difficult to detect symptoms as they are called silent organs, early detection and treatment through constant tests such as regular checkups is the most important preventive measure. In particular, elderly people should pay more attention, and as of 2023, 81.5% of all chronic kidney disease patients are in their 60s or older. It is recommended to regularly take kidney function tests conducted by national health checkups, regularly take blood and urine tests to check for proteinuria, and measure serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rates.
If you usually have risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, it is necessary to manage them steadily through diet and exercise. Drinking and smoking can impair kidney function and cause inflammation, so you should practice smoking cessation and abstaining from alcohol. In addition, dietary control is essential, and it is important to limit sodium intake because it is difficult to discharge sodium due to decreased kidney function, increasing the risk of blood pressure and swelling. Avoid processed foods and instant products, and control consumption of vegetables high in potassium, phosphorus, etc., meat high in protein, and fruits high in sugar.
Lee Ji-eun, head of the center, advised, `If your kidneys are not abnormal, it is better to eat enough fresh vegetables and fruits containing a lot of antioxidants and to eat various nutrients evenly.' `Since kidney function can be diagnosed without difficulty through blood or urine tests, it is recommended that people aged 60 or older in the risk group undergo regular checkups at least once a year.'
|
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
