Generally, humans have four excretory systems consisting of the kidneys, liver, lungs, and skin. Each of these organs functions to remove metabolic wastes and toxins from the body. However, what if the excretory system is impaired, what causes it? Here's the full review.
Kidneys are one of the excretory systems that function to remove waste products from the body in the form of urine. Basically, this process is needed by the body to keep the chemicals in the body stable. However, this process can be disrupted, especially when the kidneys have certain medical conditions.
Disorders and Diseases of the Renal Excretory System
Excretory organs in humans, like the kidneys, can be affected by various factors. Here are some diseases and disorders that can affect kidney function:
- Kidney failure
In general, kidney failure can be divided into two stages, namely acute kidney failure (ARF) and chronic kidney failure (CKD). Often, the symptoms of kidney failure in the early stages are difficult to detect so the sufferer does not immediately take treatment, and gradually this condition will get worse.
Some of the symptoms to watch out for are fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, weakness, decreased urine output, heart rate disturbances, frequent muscle cramps and tingling, swelling in the ankles, and nausea and vomiting.
- Kidney infectionKidney infection or pyelonephritis is a complication of a urinary tract infection (UTI), which occurs due to the transfer of bacteria from the bladder to the kidneys. This disease is usually caused by bacteria E. coli found in human feces. The transfer of bacteria from the anus to the urinary tract can occur during sexual intercourse or when cleaning the area after a bowel movement. Generally, women are more at risk for kidney infections.
In addition, there are several other factors that increase the risk of developing a kidney infection, including sexually active women, a weak immune system, long-term use of catheters, blockages in the urinary tract, to nerve damage around the bladder.
Kidney infections will cause symptoms fairly quickly, once the bacteria reach the kidneys. Symptoms of this disease include fever, pain around the abdomen or back, blood or pus in the urine, and foul-smelling urine.
- Kidney stones
The formation of stones in the kidneys can be caused by several factors, including not drinking enough water, taking certain medications, or suffering from a disease, such as infections and gout. Symptoms of kidney stones usually will not be felt by the sufferer if the kidney stone is still very small or has not blocked the urinary tract. However, if the stone is large and has caused a blockage, it will cause symptoms in the form of pain.
Symptoms of kidney stones that can appear when stones rub against the urinary tract are persistent pain in the side of the abdomen, lower back, groin or even testicles, nausea, vomiting, urine color becomes reddish or darker, and pain when urinating.
- Inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis)Kidney inflammation or nephritis is often caused by an autoimmune disorder or a bacterial infection that can affect kidney function. This condition can occur in areas within the kidney, such as the glomeruli, tubules, or renal interstitial tissue. If kidney inflammation is chronic, symptoms that will appear include reduced frequency of urination, worsening kidney function, nausea and lethargy, no appetite, and blood in the urine. Treatment given to patients with kidney inflammation will be adjusted to the cause.
How to Take Care of the Kidney Excretion System
To keep your kidneys healthy, do the following simple things to prevent the emergence of various kidney diseases that can cause disorders of the kidney's excretory system:
- Drink lots of water.
- Adjust diet. Choose foods such as fruits and vegetables to be consumed every day.
- Maintain your ideal weight.
- Quit smoking and stop drinking alcoholic beverages.
- Exercise regularly.
- Avoid taking over-the-counter medicines, such as painkillers, without a doctor's advice.
- Limit consumption and use of salt in food.
- Control blood sugar and body blood pressure.
In addition to doing the above, it is also advisable to regularly check with your doctor to monitor the condition and function of your kidneys. Kidney function tests that are usually performed include a physical exam plus blood and urine tests to assess the condition of the kidneys. With regular medical check-ups, various disorders of the renal excretory system can be found early and treated more quickly.