Give little place in your heart for kidneys!

Heard so much about the heart, but so less about kidneys, right? Our kidneys don't get a lot of love, and definitely don't get the attention paid to other major organs like our heart, liver, and lungs. But that doesn't mean that they aren't important — in fact, they're vital

When our kidneys aren't able to do their many jobs properly, our health can suffer. And kidney disease, a term that encompasses a variety of diseases and disorders of the kidneys, can be fatal. Have you wondered what function kidneys play?

For your body to work properly, it must contain just the right amount of water. One of the important jobs of kidneys is to remove excess water from the body or to retain water when the body needs more. Kidneys also make important chemical messengers called hormones. These hormones circulate in the bloodstream and regulate some body functions, such as blood pressure and the making of red blood cells.

When we are healthy, our kidneys regulate the levels of water and minerals in our bodies and remove waste. Some people, however, may have failed or damaged kidneys, which cannot carry out the functions properly.

Because of this, they may need dialysis. Dialysis is the artificial process of eliminating waste and unwanted water from the blood. In other words, dialysis is the artificial replacement for lost kidney function—or what is called renal replacement therapy. Dialysis may be used for patients who face acute kidney failure.

Since my mother and sister died due to renal failure I know the trauma a family has to undergo. Here are some facts about kidneys, which everyone should know.

They're smaller than what you think:

Each of your kidneys is just the size of your fist, which means that two small organs — or just one, in some people — have to do a lot of work to keep your body free of toxins and the dangerous buildup of waste products.

You can live with one kidney
Some people are born with just one kidney; the single organ usually becomes slightly larger to compensate for its missing partner, and people with one kidney can be just as healthy as those with two. Other people have one kidney because of disease or injury to the other, or because they've been a living kidney donor.

Causes of kidney disease
Diabetes, high blood pressure, and artery hardening are the most common causes of kidney disease. Other possible causes are nephritis or inflammation of the kidneys. Others are related to your genes. Because what we call "kidney disease" is actually many different diseases or conditions, there are many different possible causes.

Symptoms of kidney disease
It's important to know the symptoms of kidney disease because it can be threatening to your overall health. They include puffy eyes, hands, and feet (edema); fatigue; shortness of breath; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; thirst; persistently itchy skin; weight loss; and a yellowish-brown tint to the skin. However, mild to moderate kidney disease may not have any obvious symptoms.

What if your kidneys are working too hard?
When our kidneys are overloaded, we might end up with kidney stones or infections of the urinary tract or bladder. If those problems sound familiar, you might want to try some of the tips given here in order to ramp up your kidney help somewhat. Always consult with a trusted physician before you make any changes to medicine or start taking supplements.

Stay hydrated
To support our kidneys, the first and more important step is to ensure that you are drinking a healthy amount of water. Staying hydrated is the key to help rid the body of toxins and harmful bacteria. What are some signs you should up your water intake? Get a few extra glasses if your urine is dark yellow or if you're suffering from fatigue and headaches.

Get your greens
Adding bitter greens like dandelion and parsley in your diet, and their diuretic functions can help keep things moving through your kidneys and the rest of your body. "These foods and herbs also help to clean the blood so that there are fewer irritants that need to be filtered by the kidneys." Dandelion greens are the leaves of those pesky yellow-flowered weeds, but trying to save money by harvesting from your front yard isn't.

By: Moin Qazi