While the physiological responses of the body to maintain heat balance in hot weather create an additional burden on the kidneys, fluid loss due to sweating may also accompany this.
High humidity reduces the evaporation of sweat, making it difficult for the body to lose heat and increasing heat stress. Severe heat stress can lead to acute kidney injury, especially when severe dehydration or heat stroke occurs.
Those with chronic kidney disease, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension may be more sensitive to the effects of extreme heat. In these people, accompanying diseases and some medications used can increase the effects of fluid loss and changes in blood pressure that can occur in hot weather.
Nephrology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Zuhal Atan Uçar explained 8 rules that should be followed to protect kidney health in the summer months.
Maintain your fluid balance
Fluid loss through sweating may increase in hot weather. When this loss is not adequately compensated, the circulating blood volume may decrease and as a result, the blood supply to the kidneys may be negatively affected. Significant fluid loss, especially in older people and those with chronic diseases, can increase the risk of acute kidney injury.
What precautions should be taken?
Adjust your daily fluid intake according to your temperature, physical activity and amount of sweating. Remember that there is no single amount of water that works for everyone. If you have fluid restriction due to heart failure, advanced kidney disease or dialysis treatment, be sure to consume the amount of water recommended by your physician.
Avoid intense physical activity in extreme heat
In extreme heat, the body increases skin blood flow and sweating to keep its temperature under control. When intense exercise and fluid loss are added to this, heat stress can increase and the kidneys can be negatively affected. Severe heat stress and heat stroke can lead to acute kidney injury.
How should we take precautions?
Do exercise and strenuous outdoor activities during cooler times of the day whenever possible. If you have to work outdoors, take regular rest and hydration breaks in cool or shaded areas.
Monitor your blood pressure, do not change your medications on your own
In hot weather, vasodilatation and fluid loss can cause blood pressure to drop. The effects of fluid loss may be more pronounced, especially in those who use diuretics. In people using some blood pressure medications, kidney functions may be affected in case of severe fluid loss.
What precautions should be taken?
Monitor your blood pressure on very hot days, especially if you are being treated for hypertension. If you experience dizziness, fainting or unusually low blood pressure, consult your doctor instead of stopping your medication yourself.
Do not use random painkillers
Some painkillers in the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) group can affect the mechanisms that regulate blood flow in the kidney. The risk of acute kidney injury may increase, especially in the presence of additional risk factors such as dehydration, chronic kidney disease, advanced age or heart failure. This risk becomes even more important in situations that cause fluid loss, such as intense sweating, vomiting and diarrhea.
If you have a history of kidney stones, be careful
When fluid loss through sweating increases in hot weather and this loss is not compensated, urine volume may decrease. Low urine volume can increase the concentration of stone-forming substances in the urine, which can predispose to stone formation. Therefore, adequate fluid intake is one of the basic methods of preventing stone recurrence, especially in people who have had kidney stones before.
What precautions should be taken?
The aim in patients with kidney stones is to provide adequate urine volume. Current guidelines recommend that these patients drink enough fluid to provide a urine volume of at least 2.5 liters per day. However, remember that this is the target daily amount of urine, not the amount of water to drink. Therefore, be careful to consume the amount of water recommended by your doctor.
Pay attention to fluid loss due to diarrhea and vomiting
Sweating is not the only cause of fluid loss in summer. Diarrhea and vomiting can also lead to significant loss of water and electrolytes in a short time. When the loss is severe and cannot be replaced, circulating blood volume may decrease and kidney functions may deteriorate. More serious consequences such as acute kidney failure may occur, especially in older people and those with chronic diseases.
What precautions should be taken?
Be careful to replace fluid loss during diarrhea or vomiting. If you experience an inability to drink fluids, a significant decrease in the amount of urine, severe dizziness or fainting, seek medical advice.
If you have chronic kidney disease, do not mistake these symptoms for heat.
People with chronic kidney disease may be more sensitive to the effects of extreme temperatures, dehydration, and changes in blood pressure. Some medications used in these people can also affect fluid and blood pressure balance in hot weather. Therefore, on days when the weather is hot, changes in the general situation should be taken into consideration.
What precautions should be taken?
If you experience a significant decrease in the amount of urine, fainting, confusion, inability to drink fluids, or significant and ongoing weakness, do not attribute these complaints solely to the heat. Do not delay for medical evaluation, especially if you have chronic kidney disease.
