Drink Water for Kidney Health

“Drink adequate water to keep your kidneys healthy!”Now that’s a piece of time-tested health advice, right? But then how does it work?

The internet and medical literature, in general, is filled with ample advice on drinking adequate water for good kidney health. Usually, you will find pearls of advice urging you to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily for optimum health benefits. To be factually correct, it is your total liquid intake throughout the day that matters. This could be in the form of water, juices, smoothies, milk or other non-alcoholic beverages or even soups and broths that you take throughout the day (We specify the term “non-alcoholic” here because although liquid, alcohol is a major dehydrator).

However, we all know how plain, drinking water always forms the mainstay of retaining an optimum hydration status.

Drink water kidney health

Drink Water bell So, what is it about plain water that makes it the “drink of choice” to quench thirst in the truest sense?

Drink Water bell And how exactly does drinking more water keep your kidneys healthy?

Hint: It has got nothing to do with “flushing” your kidneys

Drink Water bell Can increasing water intake slow down the progression of chronic kidney disease? What does the latest research suggest?

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Blood in Urine: Can it be resolved?

Haematuria (Red blood cells in urine) is not a disease in itself. It is a “sign” that points to an abnormality within your body.

The treatment approach towards haematuria would require a confirmed diagnosis of the underlying cause and adopting relevant medical and/or corrective surgical approaches. Whether it can be resolved completely or not would entirely depend on its root cause.

Link blood in urine

Presenting here, the general pointers that guide your treatment plan for patients with Haematuria. Continue reading “Blood in Urine: Can it be resolved?”

Blood in Urine: How to pinpoint the site of bleeding?

Haematuria (blood in urine) is a common reason for “Red Urine” in patients with Kidney and Urinary tract diseases.

If you consult your doctor for reddish discoloration of your urine, your doctor will first:

Clinical workup hematuria

Based on the clinical examination, you will be advised necessary laboratory-based tests to confirm the presence of blood in your urine.

These tests would also allow your doctor to get an approximate idea of where the blood could have been coming from, into your urine.

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Blood in Urine: The Bare Basics of Haematuria

Haematuria

WHAT IS HAEMATURIA?

Haematuria is the technical term for the presence of red blood cells (RBCs) in urine. This could range from minute quantities such that it is invisible to the naked eye (occult or hidden bleeding), to frank hematuria such that the urine assumes a reddish tinge to a cola-coloured appearance.

Red blood cells abundantly present in our bloodstream happen to carry a pigment called “Haemoglobin” within them. This is what gives our blood, a red colour and lends that reddish tinge to most urine samples that have blood in it.

Please note: For Haematuria, the urine sample must contain whole red blood cells and not just the red pigment of blood.

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11 Myths around Kidney Disease Debunked!

Kidneys are essential for your survival. And Kidney Disease is a major cause of sickness & death worldwide.  But if diagnosed early on, and necessary treatment procedures are initiated on time, some of these conditions could be reversed to normalcy, while for others, the progression of the condition to frank kidney failure can be effectively delayed. However, early diagnosis & treatment are not always implemented in reality. And some existing Myths around Kidney Disease have a significant role in hampering this process.

It is imperative, that you pro-actively educate yourself on this front to combat any ignorance, apprehension or confusion on this topic and choose a better quality of life for yourself, today and tomorrow!

So, here’s busting the commonest Myths around Kidney Disease with established facts. Read on to empower yourself!

 

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