How much water to drink a day to protect the kidneys

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Extract from the article: « Water is life ». It represents around 60% of an adult's body weight. Drinking water is therefore the main source of water for the body. The kidney is the main organ for regulating the quantity of water, electrolytes and the elimination of toxic sub

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« Water is life ». It represents around 60% of an adult's body weight. Drinking water is therefore the main source of water for the body. The kidney is the main organ for regulating the quantity of water, electrolytes and the elimination of toxic substances. How much water should we drink every day to protect our kidneys? What are the risks of not drinking enough water?

The amount of water you should drink every day varies according to the climate and your body's needs. It generally varies between 0.5 and 3 litres, and we recommend drinking an average of 2 litres of water a day. But there are situations where we may need to go beyond these extremes. This is the case for patients with oedema, where drinking water may be reduced to less than 0.5 litres a day, and for dehydrated patients, who may be allowed to drink more than 2 litres a day.

Risks of not drinking enough water

If you don't drink enough water, you're depriving your body of what's essential for the proper functioning of all your organs in general and your kidneys in particular.If you don't drink enough water, here's what can happen to your body: Firstly, the sensation of thirst: thirst is considered to be a warning sign for the body.It is the result of a physiological mechanism involving the nervous system and hormones.But the sensation of thirst is diminished in the elderly.If this alert is not acted upon, the individual may become dehydrated.Secondly, dehydration, which means a lack of water in the body: the hydroelectrolyte balance is disturbed and the kidneys reduce the volume of urine as much as possible in order to limit water loss. At this stage, signs may include small amounts of dark urine, a dry mouth and tongue, dehydration folds and often fever.If this dehydration persists, the kidneys lose their function.Thirdly, there is acute functional renal failure, where the kidneys are no longer able to play their role: at this stage, the signs of dehydration worsen and the patient feels tired. This situation requires appropriate treatment in a health facility, as soon as possible, to allow full recovery of renal function. Otherwise, there is an inevitable progression to chronic renal failure, where the kidneys permanently lose some or all of their function.

Beware of certain poorly preserved bottled waters

What kind of water should I drink?Drinking water.In other words, water that is free from any substance harmful to health (microbes, chemical substances).Any water that loses its drinkability, whether during manufacture or storage, becomes contaminated and harmful to health.

Contaminated water can cause kidney failure.Either because of the direct effects of the contaminant on the kidneys, or indirectly through the signs that these products cause, such as diarrhoea.In fact, certain microbes can cause diarrhoea, which can be complicated by dehydration and then acute renal failure.

Advice for the general public

For the general public, ensure that drinking water is of good quality, always have access to drinking water and above all drink when thirsty, protect yourself during periods of heat, frequently remind the elderly to drink, and drink at least 2 litres of water a day if there are no contraindications.

Jean ELI

Source: Dr Pegdebamba François Kissou, nephrologist at CHU Sourou Sanou (Burkina Faso)