Kidney disease occurs when your kidneys sustain damage that prevents them from filtering your blood as they should. As a result, waste can quickly begin building up in the body, along with excess fluids, which may cause a variety of serious health consequences.
There are a few stages to kidney disease. Catching the condition as quickly as possible offers the best chance of treating the problem before these essential organs fail, but that’s not always as simple as it may sound, especially for men.
On average, men get diagnosed with kidney disease when the condition is much more advanced. But why does this occur?
Men tend to develop advanced kidney disease in higher numbers than women for a number of reasons.
Kidney health studies have shown that higher testosterone levels in men can accelerate the loss of kidney function. This is because the hormone alters renal blood flow while also increasing intra-glomerular pressure, leading the kidney’s filtration units to overwork.
High testosterone levels can predispose someone to develop kidney disease in the first place. On the other hand, women receive some protective properties from estrogen (estradiol).
Kidney health is directly impacted by other illnesses, and men are more likely to have comorbidities. They suffer disproportionately more from hypertension as well as type 2 diabetes than women do. Hypertension and diabetes are two of the leading causes of kidney disease.
Men are less likely to seek out regular medical care. They tend to procrastinate on getting their annual check-ups, where the earliest stages of kidney disease could be spotted. Men are also more likely to ignore symptoms, like changes in urination, fatigue, and persistent puffiness.
This means by the time the symptoms start impacting overall well-being enough to send men to the doctor, the disease may have advanced to harder-to-treat stages.
Men are more prone to some of the negative lifestyle factors that can most affect kidney health. They are more likely to drink alcohol in large quantities and eat diets high in protein and sodium, which puts a significant strain on the kidneys. Men tend to smoke more often than women as well.
One of the most concerning factors is the lack of regular check-ups. Kidney disease doesn’t tend to cause significant symptoms in its earliest stages, so any changes in renal function will only be seen in check-ups.
Because men are prone to skipping these screenings, the disease progresses silently. By the time the symptoms become noticeable, the condition could be at an advanced stage, which is much more difficult to treat.
Screening and addressing kidney disease as early as possible can also protect the cardiovascular system. There is a link between renal issues and strokes or heart attacks. If the kidneys can’t flush out excess fluid, blood pressure rises, putting a strain on all of the body’s blood vessels.
Because of how difficult late-stage kidney disease is to treat and how it can impact other organs, it can place significant stress on the healthcare system. It is much more costly to address the advanced stages of the disease, too.
Everyone should get screened at their annual check-ups, but some men could have a higher risk of developing kidney disease and should prioritize screenings. These include men who:
It’s important not to wait for symptoms to start before getting help.
Clinical trials focused on kidney disease can assist in uncovering what additional factors may make men more prone to suffering from advanced kidney disease and what can be done to address the problem.
At Orlando Clinical Research Center, we provide the perfect setting for all types of clinical trials. We have an array of current studies focused on kidney health that could hold the key to improving outcomes. Contact us to learn more about our services.
This article is part of the Clinical Trial Participation & Innovation series. Click here for info.
