Health care for the kidneys first

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the kidney is the foundation of one's innate constitution, the root of the five internal organs, the source of life, and the residence of vital energy. Therefore, doctors of all dynasties have advocated strengthening the kidneys and consolidating essence as the key to delaying aging, strengthening the body and prolonging life. "If the kidneys are healthy, life will be prolonged; if the kidneys are weak, life will be shortened." The "kidney" in traditional Chinese medicine is not completely the same as the kidney in modern medicine. According to TCM theory, the kidney contains many functions such as the growth and development of bones, urinary system, reproductive system, endocrine system and nervous system. It is the main internal organ for reproduction and maintaining normal physiological functions of the human body, so it is called the innate foundation.

1. Drinking too little water:

The kidneys act like a "filter" that filters out "waste" and excretes it from the body in the form of urine. Not drinking water for a long time will lead to a decrease in urine volume and an increase in the concentration of "waste" carried in the urine, which can easily lead to kidney stones and damage the kidneys.

2. Excessive drinking and meat:

Alcohol can increase blood lactate and ketone bodies, reduce kidney excretion of uric acid, and increase the risk of kidney stones. Eating too much meat will increase the production of waste products such as urea nitrogen, which increases the burden on the kidneys. If you have obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc., you are likely to develop complications such as kidney damage.

3. Frequent holding of urine:

If you hold your urine for a long time, the urine cannot flush out the bacteria, and a large number of bacteria will multiply. The bacteria will then retrograde through the ureters to the kidneys, causing urinary tract infection and pyelonephritis.

4. Eating too salty food:

Most of the sodium in the diet is metabolized by the kidneys. Eating too much salt for a long time will lead to impaired kidney function.

5. Drug Abuse:

Long-term or high-dose use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs such as indomethacin, ibuprofen, paracetamol, aminoglycoside antibiotics such as gentamicin, quinolone drugs such as ciprofloxacin, and diuretics can cause damage to the kidneys.

6. Long-term smoking:

Smoking increases blood viscosity, raises blood pressure, causes renal arteriole spasm, renal vascular ischemia and hypoxia, and further damages glomerular endothelial cells and impairs renal function.