Dangers of Smoking and Kidney Disease:
Increases risk of kidney damage: Smoking accelerates kidney disease progression, particularly in individuals with pre-existing conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
Reduces blood flow: Smoking causes blood vessel damage, leading to reduced circulation to kidneys, which affects their function.
Exacerbates high blood pressure: Nicotine and chemicals in cigarettes contribute to increased blood pressure, a key risk factor for kidney disease.
Impaired kidney filtration: Smoking causes inflammation and scarring of kidney tissue, which reduces the ability to filter waste from the body.
Increased protein in urine: Smoking can lead to proteinuria, which is a sign of kidney damage and can lead to kidney failure if untreated.
Higher risk of kidney cancer: Smoking is linked to an increased risk of developing kidney cancer due to harmful carcinogens in tobacco smoke.
Worsens diabetes-related kidney disease: Smoking makes it harder for people with diabetes to manage kidney health, worsening diabetic nephropathy.
Affects medication efficacy: Smoking can interfere with medications used to manage kidney disease and hypertension, making treatment less effective.
