Hello and welcome, this is Katherine from 00Kidney.
People are astonished when they learn how many things they know about the kidney and
kidney health are just urban legends.
Some of these myths are in fact so rooted in our culture that people will continue believing
in them no matter what.
So here it is our top 4: kidney myths.
Myth number 4: alcohol will always damage your kidneys
It is true that abusing alcohol is dangerous for the kidneys.
It can cause high blood pressure, one of the main risk factors for kidney disease.
This is probably what has started the myth that drinking alcoholic beverages will always
damage your kidneys.
Fact: a very large study, conducted on over 11.000 healthy people for 14 years, published
on the Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that drinking in moderate amounts decreased
the risk of kidney disease.
For some researchers, this can be due to an effect of alcohol on HDL cholesterol.
Alcohol can in fact raise good cholesterol levels, which has a protective effect on the
kidneys.
Other health benefits of drinking a moderate amount of alcohol are a reduced risk of ischemic
stroke, diabetes and heart disease.
So, what is considered a moderate amount?
Usual guidelines are two drinks a day for men and one for women and men older than age
65.
Examples of one drink are 5 ounces of red wine or 12 ounces of beer.
So, should you start drinking if you don't?
While alcohol some documented health benefits, the health related risks and possible problems
are many, so we do not recommend to start drinking if you don�t.
Myth number 3: high protein diets will hurt your kidneys
This is very solid myth in the nutrition world, at the point that it is believed even by some
doctors.
Everybody has heard about it: if you switch to a high protein diet, you are going to harm
your kidneys, get osteoporosis and even kidney cancer.
And this is even backed by some scientific papers.
Patients in advanced stages of kidney disease are forced to a low protein diet, since their
kidneys cannot handle anything more.
So it is probably true that a high protein diet can hurt kidney patients.
But what about healthy people?
Fact: Several studies have been done on the subject, and none of them was able to prove
that a balanced diet high on proteins can harm the kidneys.
What they have discovered is that the kidneys are actually put on a heavier workload if
you eat large amounts of proteins.
But will this harm them?
No.
One of the primary functions of the kidneys is to handle proteins metabolic waste.
And just like healthy muscles can handle large amounts of work without any damage, healthy
kidneys can process large amounts of waste without negative consequences.
Myth number 2: growing old, it is normal to have high blood pressure
This is another very dangerous and very common kidney-related myth.
Even for the elderly, it is not a healthy condition nor is it normal to have more than
120/80.
It is not a myth that blood pressure increases with age, but still having more than 120/80
means your blood pressure is too high.
Many elderly patients still have a normal blood pressure, and doctors say this is the
healthy condition.
Treatments are necessary if blood pressure is higher than normal.
High blood pressure is one of the main risk factor of kidney disease.
This means that having untreated high blood pressure can easily lead to kidney damage
and many other health problems, like heart failure, heart attack and stroke.
Best way to avoid this is keeping blood pressure monitored.
Myth Number 1: you will notice if you get kidney disease
This is one of most dangerous kidney myths.
Especially because most kidney patients only discover they have kidney disease when it
has already reached the advanced stages.
Fact: according to 2011-2014 statistics, 1 in 7 Americans has kidney disease.
Thirty million American adults.
Of those in the early stages, 96 percent don�t know they have kidney disease.
Doctors call kidney disease 'silent killer', because symptoms often go unnoticed until
advanced stages of the disease.
The human body is capable of functioning even when the kidneys are seriously compromised.
There are still some symptoms to be considered early signs of CKD.
Fatigue, back pain, increased need to urinate, blood in the urine, shortness of breath and
swollen feet or hands.
If you suspect a chronic kidney disease get tested.
It�s the only way to start the treatment earlier and reduce the progression of CKD.
This is all!
If you liked this video, please like and subscribe!
Thank you for watching, stay healthy.