Recently, the Center for Nephrology, Urology and Blood Purification - Bach Mai Hospital received a healthy young man with acute kidney failure after only one day of working in the sun without drinking enough water.
Almost had to have blood dialysis due to being subjective about health
Patient H.T. (25 years old, worker in Hanoi) was admitted to the hospital in a state of chest tightness, shortness of breath, severe muscle pain and limbs contractions. The day before, he worked continuously outdoors in the hot sun but almost forgot to drink water because he was too focused on work.
As a young person with no underlying illness, he always thought he was "good at enduring heat" until his body was almost completely exhausted.
Test results showed that the creatinine index - a measure of kidney filtration function - spiked to 400 μmol/L, nearly 4 times higher than normal. This is a sign of acute kidney failure, with a risk of blood filtration.
MSc.BSNT To Thi Anh Huyen - Center for Nephrology, Urology and Hemodialysis, Bach Mai Hospital said that the patient was admitted to the hospital in a very critical condition. If she had arrived at the hospital later, when toxins accumulated too much in the blood, the patient might have had to have emergency hemodialysis.
Fortunately, after 3 days of intensive treatment and timely fluid replenishment, the patient's kidney function was completely restored, muscle contractions and shortness of breath also disappeared and the patient was discharged from the hospital.
Why can hot weather cause acute kidney failure?
According to doctors, every hot season, the number of hospitalizations for acute kidney failure due to dehydration and extreme weather increases, including many cases of young and healthy people.
When working or moving for many hours in the sun, the body has to sweat a lot to cool down. If not replenished with water in time, the body will fall into a state of severe dehydration, causing the amount of blood supply to the kidneys to decrease.
In addition, overexertion in hot weather can also destroy the skeletal muscle. When muscles are damaged, toxins from the muscles will release into the blood, causing kidney tube blockage and quickly leading to acute kidney failure.
The human body always has a limit of endurance. If subjective, anyone can become a victim of acute kidney failure in hot weather," Dr. Anh Huyen warned.
4 warning signs to go to the hospital immediately
Doctors recommend that people pay special attention to warning signs after working or going outdoors in hot weather:
Significant decrease in urine volume or many hours without urination
Dark, dark yellow or red urine like thick tea
Severe muscle pain, cramps, continuous limbs contractions
Fatigue, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness or decreased alertness
This may be a sign that the body is severely dehydrated or kidney function is impaired.
3 principles to protect kidneys in hot weather
To prevent the risk of acute kidney failure in extreme weather, experts from the Center for Nephrology, Urology and Hemodialysis of Bach Mai Hospital recommend that people need to follow 3 important principles:
Drink water proactively, not waiting for thirst: People working outdoors should supplement electrolyte water or mineral water to replenish mineral salts lost through sweat.
Limit working, exercising or exercising outdoors during hot sunny hours from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
When feeling too hot or tired, you need to rest immediately in a cool place, cool down your body and replenish water in time.
Doctors emphasize that kidney function can be damaged very quickly just because of a serious dehydration day. When exhaustion appears, little urination or dark urine after sun exposure, people should not monitor at home but need to go to a medical facility early for examination and timely treatment.
