Is There A Connection Between Iron Issue And Kidney Function

Is there a connection between iron issue and kidney function? Yes, if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), your body may be lacking an important mineral called iron. This article is to answer how does kidney function affect iron level.

What is the function of iron?

Iron helps your body in many ways. One way is to make red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body, giving you the energy you need for your daily activities. The kidneys make your body to make enough red blood cells, and iron helps in making them healthy red blood cells.

Iron and chronic kidney disease

Healthy kidneys make an important hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) which is responsible for making red blood cells. When you have kidney disease, you cannot produce enough EPO, a problem that causes your red blood cell count to drop and anemia to develop. Many people with CKD develop anemia because their red blood cell count is too low. Iron is important in making healthy red blood cells. Thereby, ensuring enough iron is in the body helps to correct anemia. If your doctor prescribes an ESA fro you, you will need extra iron for the medicine to work at its best. This is because your iron supply is used up faster if you are taking an ESA medicine.

Your body needs enough iron to reach a healthy hemoglobin level. Iron and oxygen make up hemoglobin, which is the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen through your body. Thus, measuring the amount of hemoglobin in your blood is one way to know if your body has enough iron. The normal hemoglobin level for women is 12.0 and for men is 13.5.

In addition to ensure enough iron to correct anemia, repairing kidney damage and improving kidney function is the root solution. To achieve this target, you should have a try of Chinese medicine treatment like Hot Compress Therapy, Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy, Medicated Bath, Steaming Therapy, Mai Kang Mixture and Enema Therapy, etc. These therapies can gradually improve kidney function through dilating blood vessels, anti-inflammation and anti-coagulation, degrading extracellular matrix and providing necessary nutrients for damaged kidneys. When kidney function is improved, anemia can be corrected fundamentally.