In a healthy grand map, hypertension and kidney disease are like two “dangerous zones”, and eating habits and lifestyles are like hidden “secret passages” in which the interaction between them profoundly shapes our health.
I. “Road of attack” on kidney disease by hypertension
High blood pressure, this silent “vascular killer”, is the first “victim” of the kidneys when they remain in a state of high blood pressure. The kidneys, as important filtration organs of the human body, are immersed in a complex and small vein, like a sophisticated “filtration net” that filters waste and excess water in blood. When blood pressure rises, these tiny veins are subject to enormous stress, as is the river channel that is being hit by a flood, and the tube walls are gradually damaged. A long-term high-pressure environment increases the vascular wall, hardens it, narrows the cavity, reduces renal blood infusion and reduces normal filtration. According to studies, about 20 – 30 per cent of high blood pressure patients develop into kidney diseases, a figure that sounds like an alarm clock at the heart of every high blood pressure patient.
Moreover, hypertension activates a series of adverse physiological reactions in the body. For example, the renal-vascular stressor – formaldehydesterone system (RAAS) is over-activated, which is like a hormonal storm in the body, which further increases blood pressure while also contributing to the fibrosis of kidney cells and the gradual disruption of the kidney ‘ s organizational structure, leading to a reduction in kidney function and even to kidney failure. This kidney disease caused by hypertension, known as hypertension, is like a hidden “health killer” who unconsciously erodes kidney health.
The “reverse push” of kidney disease to hypertension
However, the story has not developed in a single direction, and kidney disease in turn can impose “negative effects” on hypertension. When the kidney function is impaired, its ability to regulate the water-salt balance in the body is lost. It’s like a “water hub” that loses command and does not normally regulate water discharge and salinity metabolism. Excessive water and salinity in the body increase blood capacity and therefore further increase blood pressure.
In addition, the kidneys have the function of a multi-generic hormone, one of which is called erythrocytogen (EPO), which plays a key role in regulating the production of red cells. In the case of kidney disease, the EPO was reduced, leading to anaemia. Anaemia increases heart work to make up for the lack of oxygen, which in turn leads to increased blood pressure. At the same time, when the kidney is damaged, the synthesis of some of the vascular hysteria in the body is reduced, while the relative increase in vascular condensation is similar to the opening of the vascular “constrictor switch” and the failure of the hysteria switch has led to increased vascular resistance and continued high blood pressure.
Dietary habits: “key code” at a healthy scale
The “dangerous red line” of salt ingestion: salt, which plays an extremely important role in the relationship between hypertension and kidney disease. High salt diets are one of the important triggers of high blood pressure and, for kidneys, a “chronic poison”. Excessive salt intake increases sodium ion concentrations in the body, leading to sodium retention in water, increased blood capacity and increased blood pressure. In the case of patients already suffering from kidney disease, the ability of the kidney to excrete sodium is reduced, and a high salt diet will undoubtedly increase the kidney burden and accelerate the deterioration of the kidney function. The World Health Organization has recommended that the daily intake of salt for adults should not exceed 5 grams, yet in real life many people far exceed this standard. For example, an ordinary fast meal may contain up to 6-8 grams of salt, and some pickled foods such as pickles, pickles, etc., are even more striking. Reducing salt intake, like the reduction of a “heavy bomb” on a healthy scale, is essential for the prevention and control of hypertension and kidney disease.
Protein intake is a “balanced path”: protein is an essential nutrient of the body, but for people with hypertension and kidneys, protein intake needs to be “balanced”. Adequate protein intake helps maintain normal metabolic and tissue rehabilitation of the body, but excessive protein can increase the metabolic burden on the kidneys. In particular, for kidney patients, the renal filtration function is impaired and too many protein metabolites cannot be handled properly, which accumulates in the body, further undermining the kidney function. In general, the daily protein intake of the patient should be between 0.6 – 1.0 g/kg body weight depending on the kidney function. High-quality proteins, such as skinny meat, fish, eggs, beans, etc., should account for 60 – 70 per cent of total protein intake. For example, a person with a mild kidney weight of 60 kg can be contained in about 36 – 42 grams of protein per day, of which high quality is about 22 – 29 grams. This would both satisfy the body’s basic protein needs and reduce the burden on the kidneys, as if a delicate balance had been struck between the “workload” of the kidneys and the “nutrition needs” of the body.
Lifestyle: the “building blocks” of the health line
The “moderate rule” of sport: for people with hypertension and kidneys, it is like a “dual-edged sword”, and moderate sports are good for health, while excessive sports can cause harm. Moderate sports, such as a mean-intensity aerobic motion of 3 – 5 times a week and 30 – 60 minutes a week, such as walking, jogging, swimming, etc., can promote blood circulation, enhance CPR function and help control blood pressure. In the case of kidneys, exercise can also improve the blood injection of kidneys and reduce the ischaemic oxygen condition of kidneys. But if the activity is too strong or long, the body will be in stress and blood pressure will rise sharply, which is undoubtedly a great pressure on the kidney vessels. At the same time, excessive exercise may also lead to the dissolution of cross-graft, with large amounts of myoglobin released into the blood, blockage of kidney tubes and increased kidney damage. Therefore, persons suffering from hypertension and kidneys must follow the “moderate rule” in their exercise and choose the appropriate physical and motor strength, based on their physical condition and on the advice of the doctor, as if they were to find their “comfort zone” on the “health track” of the exercise.
Pressure and sleep “health-related”: long-term stress is an important factor in hypertension and can have indirect effects on kidney health. Under stress, the human body is excreted with a range of hormones, such as adrenaline, cortisol, which can increase blood pressure and affect the blood dynamics and metabolic function of the kidney. Thus, learning to relieve stress, such as through meditation, deep breath, yoga, listening to music, is like opening a “safety valve” on a “high pressure pot” of pressure, so that the body and body can be relaxed. Sleep is also closely related to hypertension and kidney disease. Inadequate sleep or poor quality can cause blood pressure fluctuations and affect the renal self-repair and regulation function. Quality sleep is guaranteed for 7 – 8 hours per day, as is a “nightly rehabilitation trip” for the body and kidney, which helps to maintain blood pressure stability and kidney health.
The relationship between hypertension and kidney disease is complex, and dietary habits and lifestyles are like two key “links” linking them. In this “health-care battle” with the disease, we need to be acutely aware of the importance of these factors and to build a strong health line on the “dangerous edge” of high blood pressure and kidney disease, through reasonable dietary adjustments, moderate exercise, effective stress relief and adequate sleep security, to keep life on a healthy track.
