I hope that this next month that is just beginning will be one of prosperity, health, and progress for all of us. Let's never forget to be thankful for having health, it is important.
This time I come to tell you something important in relation to an organ of our body that is really very noble, the functions they perform are multiple, including some that most people are unaware, which is why some diseases that are presented often people at first have no idea that it is a failure of that particular organ.
I am referring specifically to the Kidneys. Kidney is usually related to urine production, and it is what we consciously use, but unconsciously they are permanently working so that our blood has the necessary amount of red blood cells, in addition to purify our body of multiple toxins and also to leave in our body what should be left. I want to talk specifically about the well-known Nephrotic Syndrome, which presents with signs that can be confused with other diseases. I invite you to read on, because what I have to tell you will surely interest you.
Nephrotic syndrome is not a disease per se, rather it is a set of signs and symptoms that usually appear together and are related to a specific condition, we can define it as follows:
It is a kidney disorder that is characterized by a number of symptoms, including protein accumulation in the urine (proteinuria), swelling (edema), a decrease in the amount of protein in the blood (hypoalbuminemia), and increased blood cholesterol.
If we see a person who in the morning when he/she wakes up has swelling in the eyelids, it is necessary to be evaluated by physicians to determine if the cause of this Edema Palpebral is this particular renal disorder.
This is one of the reasons why I mentioned at the beginning that most people would not associate a "swollen eye" with a kidney problem, or would they?
Now let us describe and understand the symptomatology that occurs when nephrotic syndrome occurs:
- Edema: swelling in the legs, feet, abdomen and other places due to fluid retention.
This is due to the fact that when proteins are eliminated from the blood by the kidneys, which produce an osmotic effect, that is to say, they keep water in the blood vessels, what happens is that this water passes to other areas of our body, such as the eyes, legs, knees, etc.
Proteinuria: the presence of protein in the urine, this can be verified by means of a urine test, however, when the amount of protein is abundant, it causes the urine to become cloudy or foamy.
Hypoalbuminemia: decrease in the amount of protein in the blood, evidently because it is being eliminated in the urine, which can cause weakness and fatigue.
Weight gain:due to the accumulation of liquids in the body. As blood protein decreases, and does not fulfill its function of maintaining the liquids in the blood vessels, the liquid passes to different parts, accumulates, and this causes weight gain due to fluid retention.
Cholesterol increase: cholesterol may increase in the blood due to protein loss in the kidneys. Under normal conditions, the liver uses lipoprotein transport protein, such as albumin, to transport cholesterol from the liver to the tissues that need it. However, in nephrotic syndrome, hypoalbuminemia can disrupt cholesterol regulation, which can lead to an increase in the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
Abdominal pain: may be caused by inflammation in the kidneys.
High blood pressure: may be a complication of nephrotic syndrome. Due to the accumulation of water, it may at some point increase the amount of circulating blood, which causes the heart to pump harder.
You may wonder why this syndrome occurs, the reality is that there are a variety of causes, so it is very difficult to define exactly, so I will mention below the most relevant ones:
Glomerular disease: as glomerulonephritis, membranous nephropathy, mesangial nephropathy.
Inflammatory disorders: such as systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, vasculitis, etc.
Diseases of the immune system: such as amyloidosis, Crohn's disease
Hereditary disorders: such as focal segmental nephropathy and segmental nephropathy
Infections: such as acute interstitial nephritis, pyelonephritis
Tumors: such as kidney tumors or tumors in other parts of the body that can leach into the blood and damage the kidneys
Medications: certain medications can damage the kidneys and cause nephrotic syndrome, for example: medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen can cause kidney damage and nephrotic syndrome in people with pre-existing kidney disease. Certain antibiotics, such as cephalosporin and gentamicin, can cause kidney damage and, in rare cases, nephrotic syndrome.
As you can see, there are a variety of causes, none of which are alike, that can cause the kidneys to fail and the person ends up with Nephrotic Syndrome.
With this I do not mean that now we have to review information to find what diseases we have or anything like that, but I think it is good to have knowledge about it, even if it is basic, and know when our body is in good condition and when there is something abnormal, because when we perceive that there is something new that usually was not, it is best to go for consultation to rule out anything.
Unfortunately, no matter how much we take care of ourselves, we may at some point suffer from things we do not know, maybe we have always eaten something or ingested some medication without any reaction and one day it hurts us, we are changing beings, that is a reality that we must always keep in mind.
I end here this publication, hoping that you have been left with information regarding this syndrome, if you have something to add or question you can leave it in the comments that as soon as possible will be a pleasure to answer you.
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