Most of us believe that the body gives some warning before any serious illness develops. However, this is often not the case with kidney disease. This is why doctors call it a “silent disease,” meaning a disease that progresses quietly. The kidneys are one of the most vital organs in our body. They purify the blood, remove waste from the body, maintain water balance, and even help regulate blood pressure. However, the kidneys’ greatest strength often becomes their greatest threat.
According to doctors, the kidneys are so strong that they continue to function for a long time even after damage. This is why many people don’t realize their kidneys are failing until the disease has progressed significantly.
Experts say that kidney disease progresses slowly and there are no obvious symptoms in the initial stages. Many people live a completely normal life and believe they are completely healthy. However, the kidneys continue to weaken internally. According to doctors, by the time people first discover the disease, in many cases, the kidneys have lost 85 to 90 percent of their function. This is why simply waiting for symptoms can be dangerous. Many patients discover their disease only when a routine health checkup results in a negative result or a sudden condition arises that requires dialysis. Therefore, doctors advise people to get regular checkups.
Late detection of kidney disease can be a major setback not only physically but also mentally. Doctors say that in many cases, patients believe they are completely healthy when they arrive at the hospital, but after examination, they discover that their kidneys are severely damaged. Accepting this reality is difficult for both the patient and their family. The sudden need for dialysis, long-term treatment, and worries about the future can be stressful. Many factors, such as treatment costs, lifestyle changes, and future planning, come to the fore. This is why doctors say that detecting the disease early is the best approach.
According to doctors, certain individuals are at higher risk for kidney disease. These include diabetics, those with high blood pressure, those with a family history of kidney disease, those suffering from obesity, smokers, heart patients, and those over 60 years of age. Therefore, such individuals are advised to have regular kidney checkups.
The good news is that there’s no need to take drastic measures to protect your kidneys. Keeping blood pressure and sugar levels under control, drinking enough water, eating a balanced diet with less salt, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and avoiding excessive use of painkillers without consulting a doctor can all help keep your kidneys healthy. Doctors clearly state that kidney disease should be diagnosed not by waiting for symptoms, but by timely testing, because if detected early, the kidneys can be protected for a long time.