iUKD — Northeast India’s First and Only Dedicated Kidney Hospital:
High blood pressure does more than increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. When it remains uncontrolled for years, it can gradually and silently damage the kidneys as well.
What makes this particularly concerning is that both high blood pressure and early-stage Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) may cause few or no obvious symptoms. As a result, the delicate blood vessels and filtration system of the kidneys may continue to deteriorate while a person still feels completely healthy.
The kidneys play several vital roles in the body. They filter waste products from the blood, remove excess water and salts, and contribute to the regulation of blood pressure. However, persistently high blood pressure can damage the delicate blood vessels within the kidneys, gradually reducing their ability to filter blood effectively.
How Does High Blood Pressure Damage the Kidneys?
The kidneys require a continuous and healthy blood supply to perform their filtration function. Inside the kidneys are millions of tiny filtration units called nephrons. Each nephron contains a network of extremely small blood vessels that helps separate waste products and excess fluid from the blood to form urine.
When blood pressure remains high for a prolonged period, excessive pressure is repeatedly exerted on the walls of these delicate blood vessels. Over time, the vessels can become narrowed and damaged. This may reduce blood flow to the kidneys and gradually impair their filtration capacity.
As the blood vessels become damaged, the tiny filtration units of the kidneys may also deteriorate. Eventually, the kidneys may become less efficient at removing waste products and excess fluid from the body.
Nephron Damage and Albumin in the Urine
One of the serious consequences of long-standing high blood pressure is damage to the kidney’s nephrons.
Normally, the kidney’s filtration system allows waste products and excess water to pass into the urine while retaining essential substances such as albumin, an important protein found in the blood.
When the kidney’s filtration barrier becomes damaged, albumin can leak into the urine. The presence of albumin or excess protein in urine can therefore be an important indicator of kidney damage.
Importantly, kidney function can decline even when a person has no noticeable symptoms. This is why regular blood pressure monitoring, blood tests and, when appropriate, urine tests are important for detecting kidney problems at an early stage.
The Two-Way Relationship Between High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease
The relationship between high blood pressure and kidney function is not one-sided.
High blood pressure can damage the kidneys. At the same time, damaged kidneys can cause blood pressure to rise and can make it more difficult to control.
In other words, high blood pressure and kidney disease can worsen each other, creating a potentially harmful cycle. Therefore, people with high blood pressure should not only keep their blood pressure under control but should also have their kidney health checked regularly.
iUKD — A Comprehensive Centre for Kidney and Urological Care
iUKD, recognised as Northeast India’s first and only dedicated kidney hospital and the fifth super-speciality kidney hospital in India, provides advanced medical care for a wide range of kidney and urological conditions.
At iUKD, patients can receive specialised treatment for kidney stones, prostate disorders, kidney failure, urinary problems in men and women, and urological cancers involving the kidney, urinary bladder, genital organs, testicles and prostate. Treatment for various male and female sexual health problems is also provided by experienced urologists and nephrologists.
From now onwards, specialist diabetes consultation will also be available at iUKD every Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. In addition, the experienced urology team is available at iUKD 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
iUKD has also established a special position in the field of urological care by providing robotic urological surgery services, including advanced surgical procedures.
Under the guidance of iUKD’s Managing Director and Chief Urology Specialist, Dr. Arup Kumar Nath, popularly known as the “LaserMan of India,” a team of expert urologists provides continuous patient care. An experienced team of nephrologists is also available throughout the week.
If you have high blood pressure or are experiencing any kidney- or urinary-related problems, do not ignore them. Seek timely advice from a specialist and undergo regular kidney health check-ups.
Contact:
📞 8011501833, 9864104444
Hospital Address:
Kidney Hospital iUKD
Institute of Urology and Kidney Diseases
Nazirakhat, Sonapur, Guwahati, Assam – 782402