kidney damage Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Heartburn Drugs Linked to Kidney Damage in 50% of Patients with No Warning Signs

The AHA! Team — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 05:23:04 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Major warning about heartburn drugs: The problems can develop “silently” Heartburn medications like Prevacid, Nexium, and Prilosec are widely used by Americans with acid reflux. Up to 50 percent of sufferers turn to these drugs. With the backing of big pharma, these brand names have become synonymous with relief for many. Currently, around 7% to 15% of the U.S. population, regardless of age or gender, regularly uses proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These drugs are commonly prescribed to treat reflux and heartburn by reducing stomach acid, and millions more buy them over the counter. However, emerging research links long-term PPI use to potential kidney damage, a serious condition that can develop quietly, often without noticeable symptoms. Major warning about heartburn drugs: The problems can develop “silently” In a five-year study of 125,000 patients published in Kidney International, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that more than half of the cases of chronic kidney damage and end-stage renal damage occurred in people without any previous record of kidney problems. According to senior study author Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, assistant professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, the study showed that kidney problems in patients taking PPIs could develop silently and gradually over time, eroding kidney function and leading to long-term kidney damage or even renal failure. End-stage renal disease is the failure of kidneys to remove waste from the body, necessitating either dialysis or a kidney transplant. Dr. Al-Aly warned that doctors must carefully monitor kidney function in patients taking PPIs – including lansoprazole, omeprazole, and esomeprazole – even when there are no signs or symptoms of damage. The study also evaluated 18,436 new users of another type of heartburn medication: histamine H2 receptor antagonists, or H2 blockers. While H2 blockers don’t work as well on heartburn, researchers found they are less likely to cause kidney problems. Additional studies confirm researchers’ disturbing findings An earlier study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology also showed that long-term use of heartburn medications is associated with kidney damage, with PPI users 28 percent more likely to experience chronic kidney disease and a shocking 96 percent more likely to develop kidney failure. The longer the drugs were taken, the higher the risk. The daily dosage also affects risk. In a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the team found that twice-a-day users of PPIs tripled their risk over people who took a single daily dose. The research team called for using PPIs only when “medically necessary” and limiting the duration of the treatment as well. Lead author Dr. Morgan Grams, assistant professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University, pointed out that up to 70 percent of acid reflux prescriptions are handed out “inappropriately” – and he estimated that a full 25 percent of long-term users could stop taking the medication without suffering increased heartburn or acid reflux. Of course, stemming the flow of prescribed PPIs will do nothing to reduce the number of people buying – and taking – these medications over the counter. And, the damage from PPIs isn’t limited to the kidneys. PPIs affect the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals PPIs interfere with the body’s ability to extract vitamin B12, an essential nutrient, from foods. Studies have shown that 75 percent of PPI users are deficient in vitamin B12 – compared to 11 percent among the general non-using population. PPIs can cause dramatic declines in blood magnesium levels, characterized by symptoms of fatigue, unsteadiness, numbness and tingling, seizures, and heart arrhythmias. As if that weren’t enough, PPIs can also lead to poor calcium absorption, raising the risk of bone fracture – especially in older patients. In addition, PPI users are more likely to be obese and have high blood pressure. PPIs are also associated with higher rates of pneumonia and C. difficile, a potentially dangerous bacterial infection. And finally, a German study showed that older adults who take proton pump inhibitors have a 44 percent increased chance of developing dementia. Natural solutions exist for acid reflux Many natural health experts point out that heartburn typically results from too little stomach acid rather than too much – and that PPIs can actually worsen the problem. You may be able to ease heartburn and acid reflux with simple dietary and lifestyle changes – such as avoiding fried, fatty, and processed foods, eating smaller meals, chewing food well, and avoiding smoking and excessive drinking. Eating healthy amounts of vegetables and high-quality organic, unprocessed foods can help restore natural gastric balance, while consuming fermented foods – such as sauerkraut, miso soup, and kimchi – can help eliminate the H. pylori bacterium that can contribute to reflux. Natural, time-honored remedies for heartburn include unfiltered apple cider vinegar, baking soda, ginger root tea, chamomile tea, and slippery elm. Of course, you shouldn’t stop or substitute any prescribed medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider. The best advice on PPIs comes from Dr. Kenneth DeVault, president of the American College of Gastroenterology, “If you don’t need these medications, you shouldn’t take them,” advises DeVault. Editor’s note: Discover the best ways to take better care of your liver, kidneys and metabolic health, own the “Best Value” package of the Fatty Liver Docu-Class created by NaturalHealth365 Programs. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov Pharmacytimes.com Medicine.washu.edu Kidney-international.org Sciencedaily.com Sciencedaily.com To read the original article click here.

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When to See a Doctor for Swelling in the Arms or Legs

The AHA! Team — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 06:27:50 +0000

Morgan deBlecourt via Duke Health – While minor swelling is common and not usually a cause for concern, swelling that is excessive, unexplained, or long-lasting may be a sign of a medical problem. Knowing when to seek care is important, since some causes of swelling can be medical emergencies. Here, Duke vascular expert Dan Geersen, PA-C, MPAP, talks about the different types of swelling and explains which symptoms are red flags. Causes of Swelling in the Arms and Legs According to Geersen, swelling can be caused by a range of conditions, from bug bites to bruises. After an injury, your body sends fluid to the affected area to help it heal. As the injury heals, excess fluid drains away and the swelling goes down. In some cases, however, your body may not be able to adequately circulate fluid, especially in areas that are farthest from your heart, like your arms, hands, legs, and feet. This type of swelling is called peripheral edema, and it can signal more dangerous issues, including: Blood clots that can travel to your heart, lungs, or brain Heart disease and heart failure Infection Kidney damage or disease Liver disease Lymphedema Severe allergic reactions Venous disease When to Seek Care for Swelling You should seek emergency care if you have sudden, unexplained swelling in just one limb or if it occurs along with chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, fever, or skin that is red and warm to the touch. These can be symptoms of dangerous conditions like deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in the leg), pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs), or cellulitis (a skin infection). If you experience swelling that does not go away on its own, make an appointment to see your primary doctor. If the issue doesn’t improve, ask your doctor for a referral to a vascular specialist. Duke offers a special Limb Swelling Clinic for just these kinds of issues. “If you have any kind of unexplained swelling, we want you to come in,” Geersen said. “We’ll do the proper work-up to make sure you get the help you need.” To read the original article click here.

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Genetic Analysis Reveals Hidden Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults

The AHA! Team — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 18:24:53 +0000

Tokyo Medical and Dental University via News-Medical – Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is extremely prevalent among adults, affecting over 800 million individuals worldwide. Many of these patients eventually require therapy to supplement or replace kidney functions, such as dialysis or kidney transplant. While most CKD cases originate from lifestyle-related factors or diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, the underlying causes of CKD remain unknown for about one in every ten people with end-stage renal failure. Could CKD in these patients stem from latent, undiagnosed genetic conditions? In a recent study published online on 14 February 2024 in Kidney International Reports, researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) in Japan set out to answer this question through a comprehensive genetic analysis of CKD patients. First, the researchers acquired data from 1,164 patients who underwent dialysis in four different clinics in the Kanagawa Prefecture during November 2019. From this multicenter cohort, the researchers filtered out adults who were over 50 years old, since people at that age have a lower incidence of inherited kidney diseases. They then filtered out patients who had an apparent cause for their CKD, leaving 90 adults with CKD of unknown origin who had consented to genetic testing. “We conducted a comprehensive analysis of 298 genes responsible for various inherited renal diseases using next-generation sequencing. These included polycystic kidney disease, nephronophthisis-related ciliopathies, autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, Alport syndrome, and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.” – Dr. Takuya Fujimaru, Lead Author The results revealed that 10 of the 90 patients (11% of the final cohort) had pathogenic variants in CKD-causing genes. Importantly, for these patients, the clinical diagnosis at the time of dialysis was incorrect. What was particularly noteworthy was that some of the hereditary renal diseases contemplated in this study, such as Fabry’s disease and Alport syndrome, could be diagnosed and treated early on to slow down or halt the progression of CKD. On top of these findings, the researchers determined that 17 patients (18.9%) had genetic variants of unknown significance (VUS) with a high probability of pathological involvement. While the relationship between these variants and kidney diseases is not clear, they should not be ignored or taken lightly. “Although the interpretation of these VUS is currently unknown, some of them may indeed be responsible for CKD,” remarks senior author Dr. Takayasu Mori. “Thus, true hereditary kidney diseases may underlie many more cases than anticipated.” This study marks one of the world’s largest comprehensive genetic analysis of patients with end-stage renal failure using clinical data. As such, the conclusions derived from the results can have important implications in how CKD is diagnosed and managed in adults. “When the primary disease underlying a case of CKD is unknown, genetic analysis could lead to accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment before the disease progresses, which could hopefully result in a decrease in the number of patients requiring dialysis,” highlights senior author Dr. Eisei Sohara. “Thus, proactive genetic analysis is recommended for adult patients without a definitive cause of CKD.” Notably, this research group has been conducting genetic analyses of hereditary kidney diseases since 2014, reaching over 1,500 families. They have recently filed a patent for a new genetic analysis system for Japanese individuals, which would assist in correctly diagnosing cases of CKD. With any luck, further efforts will pave the way to a brighter future for people with inherited kidney diseases. Source: Tokyo Medical and Dental University Journal reference: Fujimaru, T., et al. (2024). Genetic Diagnosis of Adult Hemodialysis Patients With Unknown Etiology. Kidney International Reports. doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2024.01.027. To read the original article click here.

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Combining Certain Meds With Ibuprofen Can Permanently Injure Kidneys

AHA Publisher — Fri, 13 May 2022 07:00:27 +0000

University of Waterloo via Newswise – Anyone who is taking a diuretic and a renin-angiotensin system (RSA) inhibitor for high blood pressure should be cautious about also taking ibuprofen, according to new research. Diuretics and RSA inhibitors are commonly prescribed together for people with hypertension and are available under various pharmaceutical brand names. Painkillers such as ibuprofen are available over-the-counter in most pharmacies and stores in popular brands. Researchers at the University of Waterloo used computer-simulated drug trials to model the interactions of the three drugs and the impact on the kidney. They found that in people with certain medical profiles, the combination can cause acute kidney injury, which in some cases can be permanent. “It’s not that everyone who happens to take this combination of drugs is going to have problems,” said Anita Layton, professor of applied mathematics at Waterloo and Canada 150 Research Chair in mathematical biology and medicine. “But the research shows it’s enough of a problem that you should exercise caution.” Computer-simulated drug trials can quickly produce results that would take much longer in human clinical trials. Layton and her team use mathematics and computer science to give medical practitioners a head start with issues like drug complications. The research, in this case, can also speak directly to the many people who are taking drugs for hypertension and may reach for a painkiller with ibuprofen without giving it much thought. “Diuretics are a family of drugs that make the body hold less water,” Layton said. “Being dehydrated is a major factor in acute kidney injury, and then the RAS inhibitor and ibuprofen hit the kidney with this triple whammy. If you happen to be on these hypertension drugs and need a painkiller, consider acetaminophen instead.” Layton’s new research paper, with co-authors Jessica Leete, Carolyn Wang, and Francisco J. López-Hernández, “Determining risk factors for triple whammy acute kidney injury,” appears in the journal Mathematical Biosciences. To read the original article click here.

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New Study Links Common Pesticide to Chronic Kidney Disease

AHA Publisher — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 08:00:48 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – According to new statistics released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 37 million Americans – a startling 15 percent of adults across the nation – are now estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Not only that, but an astounding 90 percent of people with CKD do not even suspect they have it! And, even when severe kidney disease is involved, only 3 out of 5 individuals with the condition are aware of it. Against the backdrop of these disturbing figures, a just-published study reveals that malathion – the most popular organophosphate insecticide in the United States – substantially raises the risk of CKD in the American population. Clearly, this calls for closer examination of the link between this toxic pesticide and CKD. Let’s take a look at the research. WARNING: Chronic Kidney Disease Has Potentially Deadly Consequences Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney failure, involves damage to the kidneys and loss of kidney function. This serious condition jeopardizes the kidneys’ ability to filter waste products from the blood and excrete them through urine – causing fluid, electrolytes, and toxins to build up in the body. The early stages of kidney disease are often symptomless, causing the condition to go unnoticed. More advanced kidney disease may be indicated by fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, urination that becomes less or more frequent, confusion, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Keep in mind, CKD can lead to severe – and even life-threatening – complications, including pulmonary edema, heart disease, high levels of potassium in the blood, seizures, and irreversible kidney damage. The condition can progress to end-stage kidney failure, which – unless addressed by dialysis or a kidney transplant – is fatal. Malathion Exposure Is Linked to a 25 Percent Increase in Chronic Kidney Disease, Study Suggests In the study, which was published October 14 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, researchers examined the effects of pesticides on kidney health in the US population. The research involved over 41,000 participants and was conducted using data from the USA National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Animal studies have previously shown that exposure to malathion increases markers of kidney injury, such as levels of serum creatinine and urea. And human studies, as well, have linked malathion to kidney damage. Also driving the research was the growing incidence of unexplained chronic kidney disease in tropical countries. While hypertension, diabetes, and aging are primary factors for chronic kidney disease, international researchers had noticed the growth of cases of CKD with no known cause, particularly in agricultural workers in poorer sections of India and Sri Lanka. The scientists suspected that environmental toxins such as pesticides might be playing a role – and wanted to examine the possible effects of pesticides on kidney health in the United States. And they found that malathion exposure was associated with a significant 25 percent increase in chronic kidney disease in the United States! Study co-author Nicholas Osborne, PhD, an associate professor at the Queensland University School of Public Health, reported that the study provided evidence of altered kidney function in people exposed to malathion. “Malathion,” Dr. Osborne stated, “increases the risk of low kidney function in the general US population.” Wait, There Is More! Malathion Depletes Supplies of the Body’s Most Potent Disease-Fighting Enzyme Categorized as a “probable carcinogen” by the World Health Organization, malathion has been linked in animal studies to birth defects and various cancers. It has also been shown to be an endocrine disruptor. Scientists believe that malathion and other organophosphate pesticides cause their damage by reducing the metabolism of glutathione, the body’s most important natural antioxidant. This in turn leads to increased oxidative stress and disease. Malathion is licensed for agricultural and domestic use – as well as for mosquito control in recreational areas – and turns up in a wide variety of applications. It may be used on fruits, vegetables, shrubs, and lawns, as well as in household pesticides for ant control. It can also be found in products used to treat fleas and ticks on pets – and even makes an appearance in some treatments for head lice on humans. Short-term effects of high exposure to malathion include headaches, nausea, dizziness, cramps, diarrhea, excessive sweating, blurred vision, and accelerated heart rate. Minimize Exposure to Malathion and Other Environmental Toxins While the Environmental Protection Agency insists that the small amounts of malathion used for mosquito control make effects on humans “unlikely,” Dr. Osborne warned that chronic exposure to pesticides – even in very small doses – can lead to negative health outcomes. Natural health experts note that people can be exposed to small – but damaging – amounts by eating conventional chemical-dependent foods, inhaling the spray through mosquito spray programs, and being exposed to “drift” from local landscape applications. To minimize exposure, experts advise remaining inside or avoiding the area for at least 30 minutes post-spray. Close windows and doors, turn off window air conditioners, and close vents during spraying – and for at least 10 minutes after. Minimize contact with surfaces in recently-sprayed areas, and – if these areas are contacted – wash skin well. Rinse both homegrown and store-bought fruits and vegetables well before cooking or eating. Of course, organic produce contains far lower amounts of synthetic pesticides. So, whenever possible, spend your food money wisely. And, don’t forget to protect your fine furry friends. Pet food and water dishes should be brought inside, and ornamental fishponds should be covered, if you notice any spraying of toxic chemicals. Other natural steps you can take to support kidney health include avoiding the overuse of NSAID medications, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, bypassing sodium-laden processed foods, and managing medical conditions that can harm kidneys. The fact that chronic kidney disease is common in American adults is disturbing, especially when you consider the lack of awareness. But: the fact that malathion appears to contribute to the growing global incidence of the disease is even worse. Be proactive and protect your health. It’s worth it! Editor’s note: Click here to learn more about kidney health inside the Fatty Liver Docu-Class. It’s available now. Sources for this article include: ScienceDaily.com MayoClinic.org Health.NY.gov BeyondPesticides.com To read the original article click here.

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