MSc.BS. CKI Tran Quoc Phong - Head of Urology Unit, An Binh Hospital - said that in addition to glomerular kidney disease, congenital kidney disease and genetic factors, young people today also face many risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, uric acid disorders and urinary stones. These conditions can cause kidney damage from an early age.
In addition, hot working environments, prolonged dehydration, abuse of pain relievers, fitness supplements, anabolic steroids or energy drinks are also factors to note.
According to Dr. Tran Quoc Phong, staying up late does not cause kidney decline immediately after a few nights. However, prolonged lack of sleep can contribute to increased blood pressure, obesity and metabolic disorders, thereby affecting kidney health.
Drinking too little water condenses urine, increasing the risk of dehydration and stone formation in people with a predisposed constitution. Meanwhile, energy drinks often contain caffeine and sugar. Using too much, especially when exercising at high intensity, working outdoors or in combination with other stimulants, can cause high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and water and electrolyte imbalance.
However, it should not be understood that drinking as much water as possible is good for the kidneys. The amount of water to supplement must be suitable for each person's physical condition, weather, level of exercise and heart and kidney condition.
Young people should check their kidney health when there are risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, family history of kidney disease, recurrent urinary stones or abnormalities such as hematuria, protein in urine, edema, abnormal nighttime urination.
For healthy young people, it is not necessary to perform many expensive tests or use "kidney tonic packs". When there is a risk, basic tests such as blood pressure measurement, urine analysis, creatinine test, eGFR and UACR can help detect early kidney abnormalities.
Dr. Tran Quoc Phong noted that you should not wait until back pain appears to think of kidney disease. Most chronic kidney diseases progress silently, without causing obvious pain. Meanwhile, back pain in young people is often related to musculoskeletal problems.
To protect kidney health, young people need to control blood pressure, weight and blood sugar; drink water suitable for the body's needs; do not smoke and limit the self-use of pain relievers, traditional medicine or supplements when not prescribed.
