How is Kidney Function Related to Blood Pressure?
Kidneys play an important role in regulating blood pressure. Damaged kidneys increase blood pressure, and increased blood pressure damages kidneys. It becomes a cycle where both conditions are related and affects your health. If HBP patients fail to reduce their blood pressure, their kidneys will be damaged, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD).
How Is Kidney Function Related to Blood Pressure?
Kidneys are an important part of the blood regulation system in the body. They work continuously to filter blood and remove waste materials and excess fluids. Nephrons in kidneys are very small filtering systems that remove waste from the blood.
Once waste materials are removed, kidneys reabsorb important substances, such as sodium, calcium, potassium, nutrients, and water, and put the clean blood back into the bloodstream. These functions of the kidneys help maintain the right balance of electrolytes and fluids necessary to regulate blood pressure.
Sodium absorption is an important aspect when it comes to blood pressure because it affects how much fluid remains or is expelled from the body. Kidneys remove unwanted toxins and drug substances and keep only the necessary components in the blood.
How Does the Kidney Regulate Blood Pressure?
When kidneys detect an excess of sodium (salt), they attract more water to dilute the blood and balance the sodium content. Increased blood volume increases blood pressure. Kidneys working efficiently are able to keep the blood free of impurities, toxins, and excess fluids – this function helps regulate blood and maintain the right balance of proteins, nutrients, and other essential elements. When the blood has only the essential components and the right volume, it flows smoothly through the bloodstream and does not increase BP. If kidneys fail to do their work, the BP can increase or decrease.
What Blood Pressure Medications Cause Kidney Failure?
Long-term use of many drugs can damage the kidneys. Blood pressure medications are no exception. Most medicines recommended for regulating blood pressure have a high potency and several side effects, which can be damaging to the kidneys.
Medicines used to lower blood pressure can damage kidneys. ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors used to relax arteries and veins in high blood pressure patients work by preventing the production of angiotensin II enzyme that narrows arteries. Kidney problems are the side effects when this drug is used for a long term.
Angiotensin receptor blocker medicines are used to treat hypertension. One of their potential side effects includes damage to the kidneys because they must maintain a normal glomerular filtration rate to remove waste from the blood, and ARBs can decrease this rate temporarily.
The serious side effects of ARBs can include acute kidney injury. In this case, the kidney function declines suddenly, leading to increased production of serum creatinine. The urine level goes down in this condition, potassium, which is closely related to blood pressure regulation, can increase in the blood with continued use of ARBs, increasing blood pressure which in turn affects the functioning of the kidneys.
Some BP-lowering medications can reduce BP below the normal level, creating a new set of problems. When kidneys start receiving reduced blood flow, their functions are compromised, and they can become damaged or even diseased. This is the reason you should continue to measure your BP regularly, even when you see improvements in your high blood pressure.
If you see your blood pressure coming within the recommended range, you can reduce or stop the use of blood pressure-reducing medications. Keep in mind – start or stop taking any medicines only after consulting your doctor.
High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease
Look for the symptoms that indicate chronic kidney disease caused by hypertension. You will see swelling of feet, legs, and ankles, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, trouble focusing, dry skin, muscle cramps, weight loss, shortness of breath, and some others. If any of these health issues continue, consult your doctor, who will recommend some tests and conduct a physical examination – your age, medical history, and other details will be evaluated.
If you have had HBP for a long time, the risk of developing CKD is always there. Hypertension-induced CKD is diagnosed by testing blood, kidney function, urine, and glomerular filtration rate. If you have diabetes or a heart problem, you will also undergo a sugar test and electrocardiography.
There is no cure for chronic kidney disease caused by hypertension. Your doctor will refer you to a nephrologist – a kidney specialist, and you will receive advice for lifestyle changes, medications, and other suggestions. The help of a certified nutritionist can be very helpful in learning about the best diet plan for you.
If you would like to receive online guidance from an HBP and kidney specialist, contact Dr. Storch here – he will prepare a treatment plan based on your diagnostic reports, age, and health condition. You can ask all questions you have about your hypertension and kidney disease during this consultation session.
