For men, the role of the kidneys is crucial. Everyone knows that you can say a man has issues here and there, but you definitely can’t say a man’s kidneys are not functioning well.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the main functions of the kidneys include storing essence, controlling water metabolism, and governing breathing. The kidneys are the source of human growth, development, and reproduction, making them fundamental to life activities, hence known as the root of innate constitution.
In Western medicine, the kidneys are part of the urinary system, responsible for filtering impurities from the blood, maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, producing urine to be excreted through the urethra, and also possessing endocrine functions to regulate blood pressure. Therefore, if the kidneys are not functioning well, various problems can arise.
Not long ago, there was a patient who noticed significant facial swelling every morning upon waking up. Initially disregarded, the swelling worsened over time, even spreading to both lower limbs, leading to a hospital visit which quickly diagnosed the condition as nephrotic syndrome.
Nephrotic syndrome is a clinical syndrome comprised of various kidney glomerular diseases with different causes and pathological changes, typically characterized by significant proteinuria, severe edema, hyperlipidemia, and hypoalbuminemia.
Nephrotic syndrome is a type of chronic kidney disease that easily recurs, and to date, there is no specific effective treatment available in medicine.
Another male patient in his 30s woke up every morning with unexplained lower back pain accompanied by visible hematuria. He suspected kidney stones but after hospital examination, it turned out to be kidney cancer.
Being diagnosed with kidney cancer at just 30 years old is very young, emphasizing that no age should underestimate health issues or assume everything is fine. Any abnormality should prompt a timely visit to the hospital.
As a physician, it is crucial to remind everyone that in men with healthy kidneys, there should be six signs in the morning, achieving at least one is highly desirable.
Firstly, for men with healthy kidneys, upon waking up in the morning, their lower back should feel comfortable without any unusual back pain.
Since the kidneys are located in the lower back, when the kidneys are normal, men typically wake up with a very comfortable lower back and without any abnormal back pain. However, if there are kidney conditions like kidney stones, kidney cancer, or nephritis, then morning back pain may be felt.
Secondly, men with healthy kidneys should wake up in the morning with good mental clarity, physical vigor, without any unusual weakness or fatigue in the lower back and knees.
The kidneys store essence, control water metabolism, and govern breathing. If the kidneys are weak, it can lead to kidney deficiency, resulting in lower back and knee weakness and overall fatigue. In contrast, when kidneys are healthy, men usually wake up feeling mentally clear and physically energetic.
Thirdly, men with healthy kidneys should wake up to good skin elasticity without any signs of swelling.
One important sign of good kidney health is visible upon waking up in the morning. If the kidneys are in good condition, the skin will have good elasticity without any visible swelling. However, if the kidneys are not healthy, facial swelling and lower limb edema can occur, typically in a symmetrical pattern.
Fourthly, men with healthy kidneys should wake up with a comfortable gastrointestinal feeling, without any unusual nausea or vomiting.
If a man’s kidneys are not functioning well, gastrointestinal issues may present first. Kidney problems can lead to toxin buildup in the body, causing mucosal congestion and swelling in the gastrointestinal system. This can result in discomfort, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and in severe cases, gastrointestinal bleeding.
Fifthly, men with healthy kidneys should have normal urine output in the morning, with no unusual changes in urine color or odor.
Many men’s first morning routine is often to urinate. However, it is important to pay attention to the urine color. If there are any changes like visible blood in the urine, foamy urine, dark urine, milky urine, or alterations in urine odor, immediate attention and consultation are crucial.
Sixthly, men with healthy kidneys should have normal urine volume when waking up in the morning, without excessive urination, reduced urine output, or no urine output at all.
The volume of urine is crucial in assessing kidney health. If there is excessive urination, reduced urine output, or no urine output in the morning, it should be taken seriously.
In a normal scenario, urine output exceeding 2500 milliliters in 24 hours is considered excessive; daily urine volume less than 400 ml or less than 17 ml per hour is reduced, while urine output less than 100 ml in 24 hours is classified as no urine output.
