Why do people over 40 need regular kidney checkups?

Regular checkups not only help protect your kidneys but also benefit your overall health. If your kidneys are unhealthy, the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders increases, significantly impacting your quality of life.

People over 40 should prioritize regular kidney checkups for the following reasons.

Kidneys are more susceptible to damage with age.

Age-related changes make the kidneys more vulnerable. These changes occur in the structure of blood vessels, glomeruli, renal tubules, as well as in the immune response and regenerative capacity. Therefore, the risk of chronic kidney disease increases in older adults even if they do not have diabetes or high blood pressure, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

Older adults with high blood pressure or diabetes should have regular kidney checkups.

Illustration: AI

Aging can cause the kidneys to gradually lose some of their filtering function, leading to less efficient cell regeneration and a buildup of toxins. Some people have kidney problems but experience no obvious symptoms. Others may feel tired, have mild swelling, or urinate frequently at night, but these symptoms are easily mistaken for other health issues.

Kidney disease often progresses silently.

One of the most important reasons for regular kidney checkups is that chronic kidney disease often has no noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Many people are unaware they have the disease even when their kidneys have suffered significant damage.

Healthy kidneys filter blood, retaining essential proteins and removing waste products. But when the glomeruli or renal tubules are damaged, proteins can leak into the urine, leading to proteinuria. This is an early sign of kidney damage.

Therefore, regular check-ups help detect kidney failure earlier, when its function is only slightly impaired. This allows doctors to make recommendations to prevent the progression of kidney failure.

The risk increases when there are co-morbidities.

After age 40, the risk of developing chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia increases. These conditions, especially if poorly controlled, can damage blood vessels and glomeruli, eventually leading to chronic kidney disease.

Experts recommend that people with risk factors should have their kidneys checked at least once a year. These risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, or a family history of kidney disease.

Many people might think that kidney function tests are complicated and require advanced equipment. But that's not entirely true. Basic kidney tests are very simple, easy to perform, and suitable for routine checkups.

These tests and examinations include blood tests, urine tests, and blood pressure measurements. In some necessary cases, doctors may order a kidney ultrasound or other imaging tests to assess kidney structure if abnormalities are detected, according to Healthline .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-sao-nguoi-tren-40-tuoi-can-kiem-tra-than-dinh-ky-185251210192739465.htm