Breathing dirty air not only causes a bad cough or any lung disease, but it also increases the risk of kidney disease or kidney failure. Compared with individuals with a high genetic risk of developing kidney disease, to those with long-term exposure to toxic pollutants which can worsen kidney function or can cause CKD (chronic kidney disease). This means that the people staying near the polluted area developed more risk of kidney disease as compared to others. Among people with normal kidney function, exposure to toxic air pollution is linked with a higher risk of later developing kidney disease. The toxic smoke of gas chambers, industrial power plants, the Greenhouse effect, and mobile sources such as vehicles, holds toxic gas such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur oxide, and other particulate matter that impacts every organ of the body, not just the lungs.
How does it actually affect your kidney?
You may think that there is no connection between air pollution and kidney disease, but when the tiny particles in the air pollution pass through the lungs and enter our bloodstream, those particles can travel until they finally reach the kidney. The nanoparticles (<2.5 μm in mean aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) or (>6nm) are not filtered by glomeruli and damage the renal tissues or vessels. Membranous nephropathy can occur when the small blood vessels of the kidney can be damaged and blood thickened by those nanoparticles. Due to this, protein leaks from the damaged blood vessels into the urine. And this will be a direct effect on the body, and a person can experience swelling all over the body which is also known as nephrotic syndrome.
Effects:
Side effects of air pollution are apparently invisible and over time silently raise the risk of deadly diseases. As we all know that due to pollution, the risk of infection gets worse in our body and can lead us to different diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, respiratory disease, and so on. High levels of air pollution can cause an increased risk of heart attack, wheezing, coughing, breathing problems, and irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat. Air pollution can also cause worsening of existing heart problems, asthma, and other lung complications and CKD.
How can we keep ourselves safe from pollution?
Do not spend much time with pollution environment or can use an N95 mask whenever you go outside. If you belong to an air-polluted area then, make sure to use an air purifier to purify the polluted air. And during this season, whom so ever is suffering from kidney disease certify to get vaccinated with the influenza vaccine to protect against seasonal flu, and the Tdap vaccine to protect against tetanus and whooping cough. Pneumococcal vaccines to protect against pneumonia, Hepatitis B vaccine to protect against hepatitis B and so on. Contact your doctor before you get any vaccines. Make sure to monitor your blood pressure and blood sugar level every week. This will help to keep you safe from the effect of air pollution.
Hope this information can help you to understand the relationship between air pollution and kidney disease.
