Now My Kidneys Might Be Packing Up
I have just been told by my GP, that the blood tests they took showed my kidneys might be packing up.
But he also said it could be the heat.
So I asked Google AI “Can hot weather affect kidney functions?” and got this answer.
Yes, hot weather can negatively affect kidney function, primarily through dehydration and its impact on blood flow to the kidneys. Dehydration can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI), and studies show that the risk of AKI increases with rising daily temperatures.
That seems to backup what the GP told me.
They are going to repeat the tests.
When I had the blood test, they took the blood out of my right arm and afterwards gave my left arm, my three-monthly B12 injection.
So did the blood test, show low B12?
So I asked Google AI “Can low B12 affect kidney functions?” and got this answer.
Yes, low vitamin B12 can potentially affect kidney function, particularly in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). While B12 deficiency is more commonly associated with neurological and blood-related issues, it can also impact kidney health and vice versa.
That’s better than a kick in the teeth, as C would say!
Can I take this line of thinking further?
I was fifty, when I was found to be coeliac and I had my stroke at 64, because of atrial fibrillation.
So I asked Google AI “Can low B12 affect heart functions?” and got this answer.
Yes, low vitamin B12 can affect heart function. Specifically, it can lead to symptoms like heart palpitations and shortness of breath, and in severe cases, it can contribute to conditions like heart failure. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also increase the risk of circulatory problems and potentially contribute to cardiovascular disease.
I certainly had palpitations and shortness of breath at times before I went on blood thinning drugs.
So did low B12 cause my atrial fibrillation
I asked Google AI “Can low B12 cause atrial fibrillation?” and got this answer.
While a B12 deficiency can indirectly contribute to atrial fibrillation (AFib) risk, it’s not a direct cause. Low B12 can lead to elevated homocysteine levels, which are associated with an increased risk of AFib and stroke. However, B12 deficiency is more directly linked to other cardiovascular issues like anemia and heart failure, which can indirectly increase the risk of AFib.
It would seem that fifty years of low B12 didn’t do my heart much good.
I have to finish with one last question for Google AI
I asked Google AI “Can coeliac disease cause atrial fibrillation?” and got this answer.
Yes, celiac disease can be associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), a type of irregular heartbeat. While the exact mechanisms are still being researched, chronic inflammation and shared risk factors are believed to play a role in this connection.
This paper on the National Institutes of Health is entitled Celiac Disease and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation, where this was the conclusion.
A significant association between celiac disease and risk of atrial fibrillation was reported in this study. There is a 38% increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Additional studies are needed to clarify the mechanistic link between atrial fibrillation and celiac disease. Some of the limitations of this study are that all were observational studies, some were medical registry-based and there was high heterogeneity between studies.
This was news to me, but the paper only dates from 2020.
The Anonymous Widower 