Chapter 6: Kidney problems related to core-temperature

Chapter 6: Kidney problems related to core-temperature

27 participants (41.9 ± 7.4 years) completed a sprint triathlon consisting of a 1500 m swim, 26 km cycle, and 8 km run. Urine samples were collected before and after the race. Conclusion: short-course triathlons significantly induced post-race proteinuria, urobilinuria, and dehydration, highlighting the substantial physiological stress on kidney function and hydration status despite the shorter distances. (*61)

If proteins end up in the urine, we speak of proteinuria.Therefore, if the kidneys are healthy, there is almost no protein in the urine. If there is protein in the urine, it is often a sign of kidney damage. The more protein in the urine, the worse the kidneys are and the worse they will be in the future.

Normal urine contains some urobilinogen. Too much urobilinogen in urine may be a sign of a liver disease, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis, or certain types of anemia. Little or no urobilinogen may be a sign of other problems with your liver, gallbladder, or bile ducts.

 

Many studies have shown that people working for a prolonged time in hot conditions, are affected by a very high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) / Chronic renal failure is a long-term condition comprised of progressive and irreversible deterioration of renal capacity due to slow destruction of the kidney, the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter blood. This is generally measured in Glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Healthy kidneys have a GFR or >90. 

This renal condition has been clearly documented in several so-called hot spots around the globe, typically in low-altitude communities near the western coast of the American continent. The affected people tend to be young, otherwise healthy individuals that often live and work where dehydration and high internal and external physical loads are common. Most researchers agree that chronic heat exposure, high external workload, and dehydration are associated with the disease

The possibility of elevated rates of CKD in other populations exposed to high external heat and heavy internal heat loads from work/exercise has been raised. These populations could include endurance athletes in sports such as running, cycling, triathlon, open swimming, adventure races, and other long-duration disciplines. Such athletes usually undertake tremendous physical effort under high heat and humidity during a large number of hours and even consecutive days in multi-stage events in tropical settings. Although there are clear differences between occupational populations and athletes there are notable environmental and contextual similarities between both populations. The researches therefore call to study, and take preventative regulatory actions to protect athletes who compete for prolonged periods at high levels of thermal stress. *29

 

A 2019 study already suggests that (although this study was not done in humans but in mice) kidney injury in heat stress is severely worsened by increasing core temperature. *28

 

The author of this blog is no medial doctor. But, with the above information in mind one could easily figure that any precaution to prevent the increase of the irreversible chronic kidney decease is wise. One of the practical measures is keeping one's core temperature lower during endurance exercise, which contributes to decrease the change of chronic kidney disease.

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