[Health Channel/Comprehensive Report] Many people think that as long as the "creatinine" (Creatinine) in the blood test is normal, or there are no bubbles in the urine, the kidneys are healthy. Zeng Guoxiang, director of the Cardiovascular Center of the Hsinchu Branch of the National Army Taoyuan General Hospital, said on the Facebook fan page "Heart Worker Dr. Zeng Guoxiang" that "early kidney damage" in medicine usually refers to the emergence of "microalbuminuria" (Microalbuminuria), or the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) begins to quietly decrease. At this time, the patient usually feels "nothing at all" and the creatinine in the blood test may be completely normal!
How to prevent it? Zeng Guoxiang said that the kidney is the organ with the densest capillaries in the body. To protect the kidneys, you must not just look at kidney function! According to the latest "CKM (Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic) Syndrome Treatment Guidelines" released in 2026, we must treat heart, blood pressure, blood sugar and obesity together to cut off toxins that damage the kidneys at the source.
"Tiny holes" in the filter
In terms of physiological anatomy, our two kidneys contain about two million tiny filters called "renal glomeruli." A healthy kidney glomerulus is like an extremely precise coffee filter that filters toxins (water) into the urine while leaving precious proteins (coffee beans) in the blood.
The truth about early kidney damage: When this filter paper is washed away by the high pressure of high blood pressure, or is inflamed by long-term soaking in high blood sugar, the mesh of the filter paper will begin to "enlarge and create holes." At this time, "albumin", the smallest protein in the blood, will begin to leak into the urine. Because the amount is so small, bubbles cannot be seen with the naked eye, and traditional urine test strips often cannot detect them! This is "early kidney damage". If it is not stopped immediately, the hole will get bigger and bigger and eventually lead to kidney dialysis.
Cardiology Perspective: 2026 CKM Syndrome’s “Burning Chain”
Why do metabolic doctors and cardiologists care about your kidneys every day? According to the latest "CKM (Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic) Syndrome Treatment Guidelines" jointly released by the American Heart Association (AHA) and major medical associations in 2026, the heart, kidneys, and metabolism are tied together as a "community of destiny"!
Alert for CKM Stage 2: According to this guideline, when you are obese, have three high blood pressure (metabolic abnormalities), and have "microalbuminuria" or a slight decline in kidney function, you have entered the second stage of CKM (Stage 2)!
The vicious cycle of the heart and kidneys: Once the kidneys are damaged in the early stage, their detoxification and drainage capabilities will decrease, which will cause systemic "micro-inflammation" and "vascular sclerosis." This will make it more difficult to control blood pressure and directly increase the resistance of the heart; once the heart is weak, the blood flow to the kidneys will be reduced, which will accelerate the necrosis of the kidneys. Zeng Guoxiang said that to achieve prevention, remember these 4 tips.
The first move: Find out the silent alarm and must check "UACR"
Zeng Guoxiang recommends asking for a "urine microalbumin to creatinine ratio" (UACR) test during a health checkup or outpatient clinic. As long as the UACR is between 30-300 mg/g, it is a clear signal of early renal damage. At this time, active intervention can give renal function a chance to reverse and recover.
Tip 2: Don’t abuse “anti-inflammatory and painkillers”
Zeng Guoxiang said that what nephrologists are most afraid of is that people swallow "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen)" when they feel pain. This type of drug will cause the afferent arterioles of the kidneys to violently contract, instantly blocking renal blood flow and causing acute renal failure! In addition, unidentified herbal medicines, folk remedies and heavy metal contamination are the main culprits that directly poison the renal tubules.
The third trick: Nutritional defense, strictly implement "sugar control and sodium reduction"
Quit high-fructose syrup: The fructose in hand drinks will produce a large amount of "uric acid" during the metabolism process. The uric acid crystals will cut your renal tubules like broken glass!
Low-sodium and Deshu Diet (DASH): Eating too much salt will cause blood pressure to skyrocket, directly breaking the filter of the renal glomerulus. Eat more fresh vegetables, whole foods, and replace sugary drinks with water.
The fourth tip: Make good use of drugs
Zeng Guoxiang said that if you already have diabetes and early kidney damage (UACR rises), you must cooperate with your doctor's advice and use medications correctly. The 2026 CKM guidelines strongly recommend the early use of drugs with "cross-organ protection", such as SGLT2 inhibitors (glucose detoxification drugs) or GLP-1 enterocrine. Not only can they lower blood sugar and reduce weight, they can also directly reduce the pressure in the renal glomerulus.
