Imagine waking up every morning feeling dizzy, your lower back aching as if you were being pressed by a heavy object, and you feel weak even after walking a few steps. This is not a scene in a TV series, but a true portrayal of a 60-year-old patient, Mr. Li, I met at the clinic. Mr. Li was originally an energetic retiree who enjoyed morning walks and tai chi. However, all this has changed dramatically in the last few months. He began to feel dizzy frequently, and his waist pain was unbearable when he walked, and his whole person seemed to have lost his former vitality. At first, he thought it was just a routine change that comes with old age, but as time went on, the symptoms became more severe.
This old man's troubles may sound far away from us, but it actually touches on a common and often overlooked health problem – kidney deficiency. Many people may not immediately associate these symptoms with kidney deficiency, but in my medical practice, this is not uncommon. Today, I would like to share with you some important information about kidney deficiency, including its symptoms, causes, and how we can prevent and improve it in our daily lives.
Let's start with Mr. Lee's story to gain insight into the effects of kidney deficiency and what we can do to protect our kidney health.
Kidney deficiency, which may sound a bit archaic in medical terms, still has a place in today's health discussions. "Kidney deficiency" in TCM theory does not only refer to the weakening of kidney function, but also involves the insufficient function of multiple systems in the body, including energy, reproduction, urine excretion, etc.
In modern medicine, the concept of kidney deficiency can correspond to certain symptoms of chronic kidney disease. For example, decreased kidney function may lead to poor excretion of metabolites and water, which can lead to a series of symptoms such as fatigue and dizziness. However, the symptoms of kidney deficiency are more extensive than simple kidney function problems, and it may involve endocrine disorders, low immune function, and other aspects.
In the view of traditional Chinese medicine, kidney deficiency is not limited to the elderly population. Poor lifestyle habits, such as overwork, lack of sleep, and improper diet, can cause or exacerbate kidney deficiency. From the perspective of Western medicine, kidney deficiency may be related to chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic kidney disease, hormonal imbalance and other conditions.
Therefore, understanding the modern medical meaning of kidney deficiency not only helps middle-aged and elderly people to better pay attention to their kidney health, but also has certain guiding significance for young people's healthy lifestyles. From maintaining good lifestyle habits, reasonable diet to regular physical examinations, they are all effective means to prevent and alleviate the symptoms of kidney deficiency.
Kidney deficiency does not happen overnight, and its signals often appear gradually in daily life. Middle-aged and elderly people especially need to pay attention to these signs and take timely measures. Here are a few common warning signs of kidney deficiency:
Frequent wake-ups at night
Weakened kidney function may cause frequent urination at night. If an increase in nocturnal waking is observed and there are no other urinary disorders, renal deficiency should be considered.
Memory loss and difficulty concentrating
Traditional Chinese medicine theory believes that the kidneys store essence, which is closely related to brain function. Kidney deficiency can cause memory loss and difficulty concentrating.
Hearing loss
The ear is the organ of the kidneys, and kidney deficiency may lead to hearing loss. Especially in the absence of obvious external factors, hearing loss is a cause for concern.
Soreness in the waist and knees
The waist and knee joints are important parts of the kidney meridian. Kidney deficiency is often accompanied by weakness or pain in the lower back and knees.
Dry hair, hair loss
Hair is the source of nutrients in the blood, and kidney deficiency may lead to insufficient nutrients in the blood, which in turn can affect the health of the hair.
**Dry
The kidneys are closely related to humoral metabolism, and weakened kidney function may lead to dryness and lack of elasticity.
Decreased sexual function
Kidney deficiency may affect the balance of sex hormonesCauses decreased sexual function, such as decreased libido or sexual dysfunction.