The kidneys play a vital role in disposing of waste out of the body and unfortunately, especially in young females, the kidneys are quite prone to infections. A kidney infection starts from bacteria that gets in through the urethra, moving through the bladder and into the kidneys.
As well as infections, some more serious kidney problems include kidney diseases and even kidney failure that will require a transplant. This is why it is really important that you take as much care as you can with your kidneys and adapt your lifestyle if necessary, in order to protect them. Once they are damaged, the more serious problems are irreversible.
Urinary Tract Infections are very common and can easily lead to the more serious complications of a kidney infection. It can be extremely painful and need to be treated to prevent further problems.
The symptoms of a Kidney Infection include:
- Sickness (both nausea and vomiting)
- Back pain
- Shivering
- Pain when urinating
- Pain in groin area
If you have a bladder infection the symptoms include:
- Pain when urinating
- Bloody urine
- Cloudy urine
- Unusually bad-smelling urine
If you are suffering from any of these then you should seek medical help before the infection develops any further. Nearly all kidney infections can be treated with a course of antibiotics.
There are a number of different answers to what causes a kidney infection:
- Spreading of bacteria when wiping around the urethra opening. Because the opening is much closer to the anus for women, it is more common.
- Kidney stones – these can block the urinary tract and stop urine from passing easily.
- Menopause or other hormonal factors that change the bacterial environment
- STIs such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
How to look after your kidneys
Given that the kidneys play such an important role, it is important that they are well looked after and there are a number of things that you can do to give your kidneys the best chance of staying healthy and fully functional:
- Frequent hydration. Your kidneys require you to take in lots of fluid to help them to function, so try and factor a good amount of water into your daily intake.
- Eat a balanced diet. A healthy and balanced diet helps to keep your kidneys working well.
- Monitor your blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to problems with both your heart and your kidneys, so make sure you regularly monitor your blood pressure and consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
- Moderate your alcohol intake. Again, too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure.
- Reduce to stop smoking. Smoking also can lead to high blood pressure.
- Lose weight. If you are overweight then you are also increasing the chances of having high blood pressure, so try adding some exercise into your daily routines. Even 20 minutes of walking a day can make a big difference and help your kidneys.
