The kidneys are a pair of organs that filter out waste and remove toxins from the blood. Every day your kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood and remove 2 quarts of waste and water. Normally they can endure a high volume of waste without too much trouble. Even a decline of 30 to 40 percent in kidney function is rarely noticeable. But several different problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can affect the filtering capacity of the kidneys, and any further stress placed upon them will only worsen the disease.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that plays an important role in the manufacturing of bile acids, hormones and vitamin D. The liver is the organ that produces cholesterol and packages it within molecules known as lipoproteins, which are then transported through the blood and throughout the rest of the body. Two main types of lipoproteins contribute to health: Low density lipoproteins, or LDL for short, are mostly made up of fat. They transport cholesterol to its destination. High density lipoproteins, or HDL, are mostly made up of proteins. They transport cholesterol back to the liver for removal from the body.
Lipoproteins
LDL is often called the "bad" cholesterol because it's the primary agent by which cholesterol can build up in the blood and narrow the arteries. As the cholesterol builds, the heart has more and more difficulty pumping blood, which can lead to hypertension, heart attacks and stroke. HDL, on the other hand, is generally associated with good heart health. Experts think that it can pick up excess cholesterol in the blood and remove it from the body.
Research
According to a study report from the Harvard Medical School, men with high levels of total cholesterol or low levels of HDL cholesterol were assessed as being twice as likely to have kidney problems compared to men who had normal levels of each. This study suggests a strong correlation, though not necessarily causation, between cholesterol levels and the development of kidney disease.
Prevention
You can lower LDL cholesterol levels and raise HDL levels by starting regular exercise, losing weight, eating healthy and controlling blood pressure and diabetes. If you smoke, then you should stop immediately. Medication such as statins or aspirin may also help. Statins inhibit the production of cholesterol within the body; aspirin works by thinning the blood. Ask your doctor first about the possibility of using medication. Kidney disease, on the other hand, is rarely cured once it starts; treatment focuses on slowing or stopping its progression.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; The Kidneys and How They Work; February 2009
- MayoClinic.com; HDL Cholesterol: How to Boost Your 'Good' Cholesterol; July 2010
- Harvard University; High Cholesterol Levels Increase the Risk of Kidney Disease; October 2003
- National Kidney Federation; Cholesterol and Kidney Disease; November 2010
