Did You Know!
Your Kidneys Help Control How Much Oxygen Your Blood Can Carry
Most people think of the kidneys as organs that filter waste and produce urine.
But your kidneys also play an important role in maintaining healthy red blood cell levels.
They produce a hormone called erythropoietin, or EPO, which tells your bone marrow to make red blood cells.
Those red blood cells carry oxygen to your brain, muscles, and other organs.
When kidney function declines, the kidneys may produce less erythropoietin. This can contribute to anemia, resulting in fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
Why it’s fascinating: Persistent tiredness can sometimes be connected to kidney function, even when a person hasn’t noticed any obvious urinary problems.
This is one reason physicians sometimes check kidney function and red blood cell counts when investigating unexplained fatigue.
