Increasing obesity problems play an important role in reducing life expectancy for people and cause some serious health problems. For a healthier life, you need to seek care and treatment from an internal medicine doctor in Abu Dhabi. Obesity is now a growing phenomenon across the globe and is one of the key factors responsible for several chronic diseases including kidney diseases.
Obesity is a combination of factors such as high-calorie intake, lack of exercise, and a sedentary lifestyle. Obesity causes death from diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and certain cancers. However, a rarely discussed and fairly unknown fact is the relationship between obesity and its effects on the kidneys.
What is the link between Kidney Disease and Obesity?
Kidney disease is more likely to occur in obese people, including people with diabetes and high blood pressure.
In addition, obesity as an indirect cause increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, which are the major risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The direct cause is that the kidneys work harder and must filter beyond normal levels called over filtration to meet the metabolic requirement of an increased body mass index (BMI) in obese individuals. If this increased normal function is also associated with an increased risk of developing CKD in the long term.
People who are overweight or obese have a 2-7 increased risk of developing EndStage kidney disease (ESKD) compared to people of normal weight. Obesity can lead to chronic kidney disease indirectly through increased load on type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, directly through increased load on the kidneys and other mechanisms.
People who are overweight are also at increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). It develops suddenly, often lasts only for a short time, and can disappear completely when the underlying cause is treated, but it can also be long-term. It can result in lifelong problems.
The most common kidney-damaging diseases are:
Polycystic kidney disease: A condition in which a person has multiple cysts in the kidney, which are enlarged. This condition is generally a congenital defect.
Kidney stones: Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits of acid salts that form in the kidneys or urinary tract. People taking gout medications are at risk of kidney stones, and dehydration is also a cause of this condition.
Proteinuria: A condition that occurs when there is an abnormal protein in the urine. Albumin is a protein found in human blood because it is needed by the body to fight infections and build muscle. The function of the human kidney is to filter the blood and remove what the body does not need. The root cause of proteinuria needs to be investigated.
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: A condition caused by scarring of the kidneys. This condition can be caused by primary or secondary reasons. The main reason for scarring is not an obvious cause. Secondary reasons can be caused by another existing medical condition, prescription drug, obesity, or another underlying medical condition.
Glomerulonephritis: A condition that causes inflammation of the glomeruli (kidney cells). This can lead to high blood pressure, blood in the urine, and proteinuria. In some cases, this can lead to acute renal failure.
Preventive measures from the Department of Internal Medicine in Abu Dhabi
Keeping your kidneys healthy is very important so that they function at their best. Your blood sugar needs to be in control, failing which will cause diabetes. Keep your body and mind fit by staying active to keep your body healthy. Water is the key to preventing kidney disease. Drinking water flushes the toxins from the kidneys, reducing the chance of kidney stones. Smoking is the cause of many health problems and it is best to quit smoking at all times. Certain over-the-counter medications can also cause kidney damage. This does not mean that you should not take them at all, but you should consult an internal medicine specialist before self-medication.
Regular health checks are important to check for people who are unaware of chronic kidney disease or health risks. Obese people need to be aware of the positive effects of losing weight, including the prevention and alleviation of various chronic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney disease. Incorporating a healthy lifestyle can prevent both obesity and chronic kidney disease.
