For men, the role of the kidneys is crucial. Everyone knows that you can say a man is not capable in various areas, but you must never say a man’s kidneys are not functioning.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the primary functions of the kidneys are to store essence, govern water, and manage the intake of qi. The kidneys are the source of human growth, development, and reproduction, and they are fundamental to life activities; hence, they are referred to as the foundation of congenital vitality.
In Western medicine, the kidneys are part of the urinary system, responsible for filtering impurities from the blood, maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, and ultimately producing urine which is expelled through the urethra. They also possess endocrine functions to regulate blood pressure. Therefore, if the kidneys are not functioning well, various problems arise.
Recently, I encountered a patient who noticed significant swelling in his facial area every morning upon waking. Initially, he did not take it seriously, but as time went on, the edema worsened, even extending to his lower limbs. He went to the hospital for a check-up and was quickly diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome.
Nephrotic syndrome is a clinical syndrome composed of various glomerular diseases caused by different etiologies and pathological changes. It is typically characterized by heavy proteinuria, severe edema, hyperlipidemia, and hypoalbuminemia.
Nephrotic syndrome is a type of chronic kidney disease that is very prone to recurrence, and up to now, there is no specific treatment method available in medicine.
Another young male patient, aged 30, felt inexplicable lower back pain every morning after waking up, accompanied by visible blood in his urine. He believed he had kidney stones, but after being examined in the hospital, he discovered he had kidney cancer.
Having kidney cancer at the age of 30 is notably young, underscoring that people of any age should not let their guard down and should not assume there are no serious issues. Abnormal symptoms should prompt a timely visit to the hospital.
As a doctor, I want to remind everyone that healthy men typically exhibit these six signs upon waking in the morning, and even having one of them is a good indication.
First, healthy men feel comfortable in their lower back upon waking, without any unusual back pain.
The kidneys are located near the lower back. Men with normal kidney function feel very comfortable in their lower back upon waking and do not experience any unusual back pain. However, if conditions like kidney stones, kidney cancer, or nephritis occur, they may feel abnormal back pain upon waking.
Second, healthy men feel good mentally and physically after waking, without unusual weakness in the lower back and knees, or general fatigue.
The kidneys store essence, govern water, and manage qi intake. If kidney function is poor, it can easily lead to kidney deficiency, and patients may experience unusual weakness in the lower back and knees, along with general fatigue. If their kidneys are functioning well, men typically feel good mentally and physically upon waking.
Third, healthy men have good skin elasticity upon waking, without any unusual swelling.
A man’s kidney health is significantly reflected in his condition upon waking. If the kidneys are in good shape, their skin will generally have good elasticity and show no unusual swelling. However, if the kidneys are not functioning well, facial and lower limb swelling may occur. Edema caused by kidney issues usually appears symmetrically and, when pressed, leaves a dimple.
Fourth, healthy men feel comfortable in their gastrointestinal tract upon waking, without any nausea or vomiting.
If a man’s kidneys are not functioning well, gastrointestinal issues may be the first to arise. This is because kidney problems can prevent many toxins from being eliminated in a timely manner, leading to accumulation in the body, which can result in congestion and swelling of the gastrointestinal mucosa, causing discomfort. Less severe cases may result in nausea and vomiting, while severe cases can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding.
Fifth, healthy men urinate normally upon waking, with no abnormal color changes or odor in their urine.
For many men, the first thing they do upon waking is urinate. However, it is important to pay attention to the characteristics of their urine. If any changes are detected, such as blood in the urine, foamy urine, dark urine, or chyle urine, these should be taken seriously, along with any changes in odor for timely medical attention.
Sixth, healthy men have a normal urine volume upon waking, without unusual polyuria, oliguria, or anuria.
A man’s kidney health can be significantly assessed by monitoring urine volume. If men experience abnormal conditions such as excessive urination, reduced urination, or no urination upon waking, it is essential to seek medical advice promptly.
