Do kidneys shrink from drinking too little water?

Water plays a vital role in kidney health. When the body is dehydrated, the kidneys have to work harder to retain water, leading to reduced filtering efficiency and increased risk of damage.

For kidney health, the first thing to realize is that water is not optional but essential. Water helps blood circulate, kidneys filter and process waste easily. Staying hydrated also helps prevent kidney stones, kidney infections and high blood pressure, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

Drinking little water for a long time makes the kidneys vulnerable to damage.

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Studies in healthy people have shown that drinking less water for just a few hours can cause a reduction in kidney size on ultrasound. However, the temporary shrinkage of the kidney is due to factors within the kidney, such as reduced blood volume, rather than loss of kidney tissue.

Even short-term, repeated bouts of dehydration can have long-term effects on the kidneys. Studies on mice have shown that mice that experience repeated bouts of dehydration are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure, kidney inflammation, and kidney fibrosis. These are markers of increased risk of chronic kidney disease.

Drinking too little water damages kidney function

Drinking too little water does not shrink the kidneys, but the volume inside the kidneys will decrease, damaging kidney function, especially the filtering function. In cases of severe dehydration, the amount of blood circulating to the kidneys decreases, causing reduced filtering, allowing toxins to accumulate and put pressure on this organ. Acute kidney injury can even occur.

If drinking too little water becomes a habit, dehydration will become chronic. At this time, kidney volume will gradually decrease, and kidney structure will also change. The result is damage to kidney function, increasing the risk of kidney stones and kidney infections.

Experts recommend that people should not only drink enough water but also drink water properly. Specifically, we need to pay attention to the body and not just drink a lot of water mechanically. Pay attention to the color of urine. When the body is hydrated, urine is straw-colored, lack of water is dark yellow and excess water is clear.

There is no need to drink too much water at a time, but drink regularly in moderation. Eating plants such as watermelon, cucumber, grapefruit, and drinking coconut water are also good ways to replenish water, according to Healthline .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/than-co-teo-lai-khi-uong-qua-it-nuoc-khong-18525081519002847.htm