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Can Stress Affect Your Kidneys

Kidney Disease & Hair Loss

How Stress Affects Kidney

Hair is made of protein and an adequate intake of good dietary protein is essential for healthy hair. In patients with Chronic Kidney Disease, a reduced appetite, the build-up of toxins, mineral & vitamin deficiencies can result in thinning, brittle and falling hair. Hair loss is also an important symptom of severe CKD.

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After all, it isnt every day that you hear about a diet that encourages you to eat tasty, fatty cuts of meat.

Since dietary fats have been unfairly demonized for the past few decades, some people are worried that keto may affect your internal organs.

Specifically, theres controversy about the keto-kidney connection.

So is the low carb, high fat lifestyle bad for your kidneys?

Read on to see the two sides of the debate.

In this article, were going to talk about:

What Is Kidney Failure

Kidney failure means one or both kidneys can no longer function well on their own. Sometimes, kidney failure is temporary and comes on quickly. Other times, it is a chronic condition that can get worse slowly over a long time.

Kidney failure may sound serious, and it is. But treatments such as dialysis and kidney transplant help many people with limited kidney function continue to live fulfilling lives.

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Immediate And Late Effects Of Stress Stimuli On The Kidneys Of Prepubertal Rats

The kidney weight and volume of group SP-I reduced by 10.8% and 9.0%, respectively, in comparison to group CP-I. These parameters were not altered among groups CP-L and SP-L.

The cortical-medullar ratio of group SP-I was 4.4% higher than its control group, but CV was similar between these groups. No differences were observed for the cortical-medullar ratio or CV among the CP-L and SP-L groups.

Group SP-I showed reduced Vv values in comparison to group CP-I, with a reduction of 17.4%. No differences for Vv were observed between the CP-L and SP-L groups. Further, no differences in VWGV were observed among the kidneys of all groups.

The total number of glomeruli per kidney was significantly smaller in stressed animals compared to its age-matched controls. The kidneys of group SP-I had 20.9% less glomeruli than those of group CP-I. Also affected by chronic stress, the SP-L group demonstrated 19.8% less glomeruli than the CP-L group. Fig. 2 illustrates the most prominent differences among immediately-evaluated groups. The morphometric data of groups CP-I, SP-I, CP-L and SP-L are presented in Table 1.

Table 1.

Morphometric data of prepubertal rats submitted to stress conditions evaluated immediately or lately , and its control groups evaluated immediately or lately . a: Different of CP-I. b: Different of SP-I. c: Different of CP-L

Fig. 2.

Urine Tests For Kidney Disease

The Effects of Lupus on the Body  Schoen Med

Damaged or inflamed kidneys leak substances such as blood or protein into the urine. The preferred test for detecting protein in the urine is a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio test, which shows the amount of albumin in the urine.

A urine ACR test should be done at least once a year if the person has diabetes or high blood pressure, and every two years if the person has any of the other identified risk factors for developing chronic kidney disease.

A urine ACR test is performed by sending a sample of your urine to a laboratory for analysis.

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Saturated Fat Is Beneficial Not Harmful

For several years, the official dietary recommendations have blamed saturated fat for increased risk of heart disease and mortality.

Thats why many people think the heavy meat consumption on the ketogenic diet is bad for your heart and kidneys. We have been led to believe that red meat and other fatty meat products would damage our organs.

Research now proves this is false.

Studies have shown unprocessed meat doesnt significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease only processed meat is harmful.

Processed meats which we dont recommend on keto lead to a 70% increase in the risk of heart disease. So as long as you stick to grass fed meat, your heart will be healthy.

Ckd: Protect Your Heart

Over time, CKD often gets worse and can lead to kidney failure. A person with kidney failure will need regular dialysisexternal icon or a kidney transplant to survive.

Although dialysis is needed because of CKD, heart disease is the most common cause of death for someone on dialysis. This is because when kidneys dont function properly, the heart has to work harderexternal icon to circulate blood, leading to high blood pressure and possibly heart disease.

If you or a loved one needs dialysis, look at these tips to help protect your heart:

  • Choose foods that are healthiest for your heart and your kidneys. Ask your doctor for a referral to a dietitian whos trained in CKD nutrition to understand which foods and beverages are best for you. You can learn more about dialysis and a healthy diet hereexternal icon.
  • Regular physical activity helps to lower your blood pressure and improve your heart health. Moving more doesnt have to be strenuous! Some great ways to get active are gardening, yoga, or a brisk walk around the block. Ask your doctor about which activities are best for you and if there are any you should avoid.
  • Manage your weight and blood sugarthis can be done with diet and exercise! Meet with a dietitian to create an eating plan that works for you and your kidneys or check out these resources to help you manage your blood sugar.

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How Does Stress Cause Kidney Stones

Research has found a strong link between kidney stones and stress.

A study found that people with kidney stones were much more likely to have had stress the two years before having a kidney stone. Specifically, people with kidney stones were more likely to report stressful feelings or emotional problems, or prolonged feelings of anger, nervousness or sadness in this study.

There are multiple reasons why stress might cause kidney stones.

The Real Culprits Behind Chronic Kidney Disease

#2 Cause Of Kidney Problems & Damage 7 Natural Solutions

The two main causes of chronic kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. As you just learned, a ketogenic diet can improve both of these risk factors.

Other risk factors include:

  • Family history of kidney disease
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Chronically high blood sugar levels

Weight control is also crucial for maintaining healthy kidney function. Obese people are more prone to chronic kidney disease, and obesity can be largely attributed to processed, high carb diets.

Following a ketogenic diet can significantly help with weight loss, blood sugar control and improve kidney function which can help prevent kidney damage.

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Chronic Kidney Disease: Common Symptoms Causes & Tests

Michele Walsh3/9/2021 5:29:39 PM

Chronic Kidney Disease or CKD is a silent and insidious disease affecting an astounding 700 million people worldwide. In the United States alone, there exist over 30 million cases of Chronic Kidney Disease. On average, one in three adults is at risk of developing the condition, a concerning matter for public health. To make matters even more complex, over 90% of the affected individuals do not notice their symptoms until the disease approaches its final stages.

We discuss its causes, common symptoms like kidney disease itching, weight loss, and hair loss caused by kidney disease, followed by tests and treatment.

Why Wait Until Your Kidneys Are Diseased

While the study was conducted on people with kidney disease, we could safely extrapolate the recommendations to those who want to avoid kidney disease and achieve optimal kidney function now, especially as we age.

In fact, additional research points to the actuality of physiological changes in the kidneys as we age. The research notes that a progressive reduction of the glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow are observed in conjunction with aging. The reason for these phenomena is a decrease in the plasma flow in the glomerulus, a bundle of capillaries that partially form the renal corpuscle.2

In addition, the aging kidneys experience other structural changes, such as a loss of renal mass, and decreased responsiveness to stimuli that constrict or dilate blood vessels. The study concludes with a notable summation:

age-related changes in cardiovascular hemodynamics, such as reduced cardiac output and systemic hypertension, are likely to play a role in reducing renal perfusion and filtration. Finally, it is hypothesized that increases in cellular oxidative stress that accompany aging result in endothelial cell dysfunction and changes in vasoactive mediators resulting in increased atherosclerosis, hypertension and glomerulosclerosis.2

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Stress Pathophysiology And Kidney Disease

Results from this extensive body of research have shown that stress can have an adverse effect on illness and disease, directly through physiological effects and indirectly through behaviors and practices that have implications for health.31,32 No study to date has developed a comprehensive stress model specifying the biologic pathways between stressors and the development and progression of CKD because most social, psychological, and environmental stressors cannot be recreated or simulated in a laboratory setting.33 Nonetheless, results from recent studies examining the relationship between acute stress and CKD risks factors suggest some biologic pathways through which stress may be associated with CKD and its complications.

Feeling Tired Or Sluggish During The Day

Can Stress Cause Kidney Disease!

Everyone has a day when they feel tired maybe you didnt get enough sleep, or ate the wrong foods, or some other temporary factors are at play. But sometimes, fatigue is caused by lack of a hormone called erythropoietin, or EPO. The main function of EPO is to stimulate the production of red blood cells, and red blood cells carry energizing oxygen to cells throughout your body.

Stressed kidneys do not produce enough EPO, thereby reducing the number of red blood cells and making you feel weak and tired out.

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Tips To Reduce Your Level Of Stress

The next time youre feeling overwhelmed, try one or more of these coping techniques to relax and recharge:

  • Try yoga, stretching, or meditation
  • Get an extra hour of sleep
  • Go for a walk or spend time in your garden
  • Do something you love
  • Vent to someone you trust
  • Write about how you are feeling in a journal
  • Try a new kidney-friendly recipe for dinner
  • Talk to your Satellite Healthcare social worker for other things that might help

Visit our blog for more information about chronic kidney disease and how to live your best life.

Hypersensitivity And Health Monitoring

Anxiety also causes two different symptoms that can create fears over kidney health. The first is known as hypersensitivity. Hypersensitivity is when the body becomes too sensitive to any change in the way that you feel. It’s a common condition with all types of anxiety, especially in those that have panic attacks.

Hypersensitivity is an anxiety symptom, and it’s not clear how it occurs, but the result is that you pay such close attention to your body that you notice everything – every change, every feeling, every sensation – including those that are so minor that those without anxiety may not even notice them. When you notice these sensations, your mind tends to amplify them, and this can lead to concerns over health in the areas that the sensations take place.

Another symptom of anxiety is health monitoring. This is when you are always checking to make sure that you’re in good health, even though there’s little reason to check so often. Some people check their pulse, some people check their stool, some people check their eyes, and some people check their urine.

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Can Stress Affect Your Pituitary Gland

stressthetheand thethe pituitary glandintheglandsthethe

Similarly, what are symptoms of pituitary gland problems?

Depending on which hormones are affected, symptoms might include:

  • Nausea.
  • Unexplained weight loss or weight gain.
  • Loss of body hair.
  • Menstrual changes or loss of menstrual periods in women.
  • Erectile dysfunction in men.

Furthermore, which gland in your body is responsible for the stress response? When you feel stress, the pituitary gland, at the base of the brain, increases its production of the hormone ACTH. This hormone tells the adrenal glands, found at the top of your kidneys, to increase their production of hormones.

In this way, what effects does stress have on the adrenal gland?

Your adrenal glands, which are small organs above your kidneys, respond to stress by releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are part of your “fight or flight” response. They increase your blood pressure and your heart rate.

What causes the pituitary gland to malfunction?

Hypopituitary CausesTumors can cause damage to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus and can therefore result in a loss of function. Damage to the pituitary gland can also be caused by radiation, surgery, infections such as meningitis, or various other conditions. In some cases, the cause is unknown.

Ways To Lower Your Blood Pressure

Take the Pressure Off: Your Kidneys and Your Health

Lowering your blood pressure will help you avoid kidney damage and may slow the progression of kidney disease if you already have it. These steps can help protect your kidneys:

  • Improve your diet: Limit sugary snacks, junk food, high-sodium foods and foods that contain saturated fats. Make sure your diet includes a healthy mix of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and fish, poultry and lean meats.

  • Lose weight: Excess weight stresses your heart and may raise your blood pressure. Losing even a few pounds may help lower your pressure.

  • Exercise more: Exercise is an excellent, inexpensive way to keep your blood pressure under control. The American Heart Association® recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week or 75 minutes of vigorous activity for adults, as well as 2 muscle-strengthening sessions per week.

  • Relax: Stress also plays a role in high blood pressure. Any activity that reduces stress, whether its exercise, yoga or reading a good book, will help you protect your heart and kidneys.

  • Stop smoking: Smoking may narrow your blood vessels, increasing your blood pressure. If youve been thinking about giving up smoking, nows the perfect time to stop. Learn about our Smoking Cessation Program.

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    Metabolic Changes Make Kidney Stones

    Stress changes the chemistry in your body. Stress can cause your body to make many hormones including adrenocorticotrophic hormone and parathyroid hormone . These hormones can impact your health in many ways.

    Specifically, these hormones change the chemistry in your urine, which is one way stress can cause kidney stones. Research has shown that stress related hormones increase urine calcium, oxalate and uric acid. High levels of calcium, oxalate or uric acid in your urine make kidney stones more likely.

    Stress hormones can also decrease how much urine your kidneys make. This makes your urine more concentrated and kidney stones more likely.

    What Is Chronic Kidney Disease

    Chronic Kidney Disease is a result of prolonged destruction of the kidneys. The condition develops due to slow, progressive damage to the nephron, the small filtration unit in the kidney. A single kidney can contain up to a million nephrons, the most fundamental units of blood filtration. Chronic Kidney Disease causes irreparable damage to these tiny blood filters, hampering kidney function.

    Your kidneys perform a slew of essential bodily functions like:

    • Filtration of blood and the removal of toxins, wastes, and excess fluids.
    • Maintaining a steady level of essential electrolytes like sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and phosphate.
    • Excretion of any ingested medicines or drugs.
    • Regulation of the heart rate by secreting specific hormones.
    • Promoting the production of new red blood cells in the bone marrow.
    • Maintenance of the delicate acid-base balance in the body and regulating a steady pH.
    • Regulation of body temperature.

    Chronic Kidney Disease can impair the kidneys’ ability to carry out these functions effectively or even cause the kidneys to fail in end-stage kidney disease.

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    Can Hbp Cause Kidney Failure

    Your kidneys and your circulatory system depend on each other for good health. The kidneys help filter wastes and extra fluids from blood, and they use a lot of blood vessels to do so. When the blood vessels become damaged, the nephrons that filter your blood dont receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to function well. This is why high blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure. Over time, uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause arteries around the kidneys to narrow, weaken or harden. These damaged arteries are not able to deliver enough blood to the kidney tissue.

    How Does Chronic Kidney Disease Affect Mental Health

    Can Stress Cause Kidney Stones?

    The relationship between CKD and mental health works in both directions. CKD can affect your mental health, and your mental health can affect your CKD.

    Researchers are trying to find the connections between the kidneys and the brain to find out more about how CKD can impact mental well-being.

    Theres research that suggests that cognitive impairment such as dementia could relate to circulatory system damage that affects the kidneys and brain.

    There isnt a definitive connection between CKD and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, though these often occur together.

    You may experience mental health changes because of the stressors associated with CKD. These may include:

    • the logistics and cost of treatment
    • restrictions to your lifestyle or working life
    • the need to rely on others
    • living with CKD symptoms or complications
    • uncertainty about your health or future

    Those with more advanced CKD or end-stage renal disease may find that the demands of their treatment worsen their mental well-being.

    Mental health conditions can also impact your physical health. Stress, anxiety, and depression can:

    • alter your sleeping and eating habits
    • raise your blood sugar and blood pressure levels, which can impact kidney health
    • impact how you cope with and follow your CKD treatment

    They

    • cognitive impairment, including dementia

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