Don't Be Ignored, High Blood Pressure Can Trigger The Risk Of Kidney Disease

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Nephrology Association (Pernefri) dr. Aida Lydia, Ph.D., Sp.PD-KGH said that uncontrolled hypertension can cause kidney disease because this condition will affect damage to the kidney blood vessels.

"If hypertension is not controlled, of course, it can cause kidney problems over time because it damages the blood vessels, including the kidney blood vessels," said Aida who also practices at the National Central General Hospital, dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo (RSCM), quoted from ANTARA, Wednesday, March 15.

Furthermore, she explained that high blood pressure would be transmitted to blood vessels in all organs. With high blood pressure, over time, blood vessels can be damaged, including blood vessels in the kidneys. When the kidney blood vessels are disturbed, over time it can also damage the kidney itself.

"If you have hypertension, it's like a chicken and egg. There are people who have hypertension first, it can't be controlled and their kidneys are damaged. There are people whose kidneys are disturbed first, then it also causes hypertension," said Aida.

Therefore, Aida reminded the importance of maintaining blood pressure so that it is always in normal condition. If a patient with hypertension is advised to take medication by a doctor, then continue to take medication regularly.

According to Aida, there are still many perceptions in society that taking hypertension medication continuously can damage the kidneys. This assumption is wrong. Actually, said Aida, what damages the kidneys is hypertension itself.

"It's not the medicine that causes kidney damage but hypertension. This is often a misunderstanding among the laity," she said.

Apart from hypertension, diabetes can also trigger kidney disease. This is because the condition of diabetes can also damage the blood vessels in the organs. High blood sugar will damage the glomerular cells which function as blood filters.

"If the filtration is damaged, protein leaks occur which should not be excreted in the urine," said Aida.

According to Aida, one of the characteristics of impaired kidney function in diabetics is that the urine that comes out is usually frothy. Then, when examined further, the protein contained in the urine is also a lot. This condition, said Aida, will further damage kidney cells.

To be able to know and confirm kidney function, Aida said it is also necessary to carry out a series of urine and blood tests.

In examining the urine, the doctor will ascertain whether there is excessive and continuous leakage of albumin or protein and analyze whether there are excess red blood cells. On a blood test, you will check the value of urea and creatinine, especially creatinine, to get an estimate of the glomerular rate.