3 common kidney conditions in older adults, and how to prevent ailments

How to keep kidneys healthy: People with heart disease, high blood pressure, or kidney impairment should avoid NSAIDs unless specifically prescribed by a doctor (Image: Pexels)

Our kidneys, the two bean-shaped body organs, serve as natural filters in our body, excreting toxins and waste products, and balance fluids, electrolytes, essential minerals, sodium and potassium. If we don't take care of kidney's health, its functions diminish slowly, especially in old age.

The trouble with kidney diseases is that the symptoms of its deteriorating condition are not overtly visible, and by the time trouble is detected, it is usually too late. Common risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, or long-term medicine use also make your kidneys more likely to face issues in old age.

Dr Sashi Kiran A, Consultant Nephrologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, explains major kidney related problems that occur with old age and suggests ways to deal with it.

Also read | Chronic kidney disease: Symptoms, prevention, management strategies for better health

Common kidney-related conditions in older adults

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD): CKD is rising significantly due to increasing rates of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. While it can affect anyone at any age, people over 60 are more vulnerable due to age-related decline in kidney function. Diabetes and high blood pressure put pressure on the kidneys' blood vessels, impairing function over time.

• Acute Kidney Injury: When the kidneys suddenly lose their capacity to filter waste from the blood, it results in Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). It can happen within hours or days. AKI typically develops as a side effect of another severe disease.  This kind of kidney disease typically occurs in elderly patients who have other illnesses that also impact their kidneys. Persistent UTIs, diarrhoea, dehydration, feeling or being ill, sleepiness, or fewer than usual urination are all possible signs and symptoms of AKI.

• Drug Induced Kidney disease: Ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can harm the kidneys if taken for long. One of the kidney's main roles is the removal and metabolism of medications. Many drugs must pass through the kidneys, as they are excreted in urine. Additionally, the kidneys metabolise medications, converting them from active to inactive forms before elimination.

These functions expose the kidneys to the drugs a person takes. People with heart disease, high blood pressure, or kidney impairment should avoid NSAIDs unless specifically prescribed by a doctor.

How to keep kidneys healthy

• Drink plenty of water and pay attention to the colour of your urine. A pale colour is healthy, whereas a dark colour usually indicates that you haven't been drinking enough.

• Go for a kidney checkup every year if you have diabetes or have a history of high blood pressure.

• People with kidney conditions should see their doctors to ensure that the medications they are prescribed are appropriate for their condition, as some antibiotics are less friendly to the kidneys.

• Limit salt intake and stick to a balanced diet. Lower salt diets are advised because salt causes the kidneys to work harder and can cause hypertension.

• Check your blood pressure regularly.

• Keep your body moving and stay active. Regular exercise helps promote cardiovascular health, which is strongly related to renal function. Being active is essential for kidney health because it helps control risk factors for renal disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.