The kidneys, a set of vital organs, function as filters by removing unwanted waste from the body in the form of urine. According to the National Kidney Foundation, these organs also control acid content and calcium metabolism, balance fluids and electrolytes such as salt and potassium, produce hormones, and regulate blood pressure. Kidney damage can have a rapid onset or occur slowly due to a number of reasons, resulting in irreversible impairment of the organs.
Diabetes
Diabetes, a disease characterized by a high level of sugar in the blood, can injure the kidneys. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NKUDIC, states that sugars need to break down into smaller molecules in order to exit the bloodstream. When sugar doesn’t leave the blood properly, the large particles produce a poison-like effect as they enter the kidneys, resulting in damage to the small filtering tubules or nephrons.
Hypertension
High blood pressure, or hypertension, increases the pressure within the circulatory system of the body. High pressure in the arteries can damage the vessels in the kidneys. The damaged vessels cannot adequately filter wastes or nutrients. The Mayo Clinic states that injured arteries in the kidneys lead to high levels of fluids and wastes in the body, which may ultimately require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Inflammation and Infection
NKUDIC states that a group of diseases referred to as glomerular diseases can cause inflammation and infection in the kidneys. These diseases can destroy or damage the small blood vessels and filtering tubules within the kidney. Examples of glomerular diseases include autoimmune disorders in which the body attacks itself, infections such as glomerulonephritis, and sclerotic diseases that harden the arteries in the kidneys.
Congenital and Inherited Disorders
According to NKUDIC, kidney damage can result from inherited disorders or a genetic mutation that is passed down to children from their parents. An example of an inherited disorder is polycystic kidney disease, which is characterized by the internal portion of the kidney filling with abnormal cysts and decreasing the filtering ability of the organ.
The National Kidney Foundation explains that a fetus can develop kidney disease in utero. This congenital disease occurs when the unborn baby’s bladder malfunctions, allowing urine to flow back into the kidney, which leads to infection and damage.
Other Causes
NKUDIC reports that external trauma to the kidneys, such as a hit to the lower back, can result in kidney damage. Prescription and over-the-counter medications, illegal drugs, pesticides and toxins can also cause damage to the kidneys, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
