According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), the kidneys are a pair of organs that are vital to maintaining a healthy body. The primary function of the kidneys is to ensure that your blood remains clean and that the necessary chemicals within your blood remain balanced. If your kidneys are unable to function normally, you may require dialysis treatments to remain healthy.
Waste Removal
The two kidneys of the body contain a filtering unit--called the glomerulus--that allows blood to be circulated and filtered through the kidneys. As blood reaches the glomerulus, waste products are filtered out of the blood, allowing the clean blood to move through tubules within the kidney. While the clean blood moves along the tubule, the kidneys help balance the amount of chemicals and water within the blood according to what the body needs. Any excess waste removed from the blood is excreted by the body in the form of urine. Each day, the kidneys filter approximately 200 quarts of fluid back into the bloodstream according to the National Kidney Foundation. The body excretes approximately 2 quarts of urine every 24 hours.
Blood Pressure Regulation
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the kidneys help regulate blood pressure by controlling the balance of sodium chloride (salt), and extracellular fluid and blood volume. If a healthy individual consumes an excessive amount of salt, the kidneys work by filtering the salt out of the blood by producing more urine. By maintaining this balance, the heart does not have to manage increased levels of extracellular fluid or blood volume, which would cause blood pressure levels to increase. If your kidneys have difficulty excreting sodium, the resultant increase in extracellular fluid and blood volume may lead to high blood pressure.
Hormonal Regulation
The kidneys also play an important role in the regulation of certain hormones within the body, according to the NKUDIC. The kidneys are responsible for releasing three crucial hormones: erythropoietin, rennin and calcitriol. Erythropoietin, which is involved in the production of red blood cells, acts by stimulating the bone marrow to produce these cells. Renin plays a role in blood pressure regulation, while calcitriol helps ensure that the body maintains a healthy chemical balance. Calcitriol, which is the active form of vitamin D, is also necessary for maintaining healthy, strong bones.
