Our kidneys are responsible for maintaining balance in the internal environment in our body. They remove numerous waste products via urine. Not just removal, they also ensure selective filtration and reabsorption, so that certain useful substances are retained in the human body. They maintain the perfect acid-base balance, so that all the chemical processes inside us can happen in an optimal environment.

Our kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoietin, which stimulates our bone marrow to produce adequate red blood cells. In kidney disease, reduced production of erythropoietin can lead to reduced hemoglobin. Moreover, our kidneys are responsible for maintaining bone health by making the active form of vitamin D.

Via the formation of urine, our kidneys not only remove waste products, they also maintain water and salt balance in the body. In kidney disease, there may be fluid accumulation causing swelling around the eyes, on feet or the whole of the body. This fluid may also collect in lungs causing difficulty in breathing.

Did you know that our kidneys, and not the heart, is the main organ regulating blood pressure (BP)? That is why, very often kidney patients have high  BP, sometimes requiring multiple medicines.

So now that we know about the roles these beautiful organs play in our body, let us discuss some of the common problems faced by patients with kidney diseases.