Most people are in a state of denial when it comes to the health of their kidneys and the possibilities of kidney diseases. Most of them are ignorant about the protecting kidneys.
Kidneys are one of the most important organs in the human body as they act as filters and clean the blood, by getting rid of all the wastes. It is therefore very important to check your kidney function from time to time by taking blood and urine tests regularly. Unhealthy kidneys can result in a variety of health problem such as diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia, edema and other illnesses. This article will give some guidelines on how to protect your kidneys in simple language.
Before we look at the ways to protect kidneys, we must first know why kidneys are so important for your overall health.
These are as follows:
- Kidneys filter excess fluid and waste products from the blood and pass them out as urine.
- Kidneys produce the erythropoietin hormone that is responsible for stimulating the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.
- They also produce rennin hormone that helps in regulating blood pressure.
- Kidneys also filter out excess minerals in your blood thus helping in maintaining the electrolyte levels in your body.
- The ability of your body to absorb calcium from the food you eat depends on the calcitriol hormone, which is also produced by kidneys.
Following is a list of guidelines that you must follow if you want to protect your kidneys from diseases:
- Cholesterol levels
You must keep checking your cholesterol levels regularly to maintain your health. High level of cholesterol in your body, also known as hypercholesterolemia, can result in heart diseases, kidney diseases and also stroke. A combination of healthy diet, exercise and medication will ensure that your cholesterol levels. - Weight
Another thing to keep in mind is that increases in weight will lead to problems in the functioning of your kidneys. Maintain a healthy weight and the right BMI (body mass index). Include a healthy diet and good exercise in your daily routine; simple activities like gardening, playing with your kids and housekeeping can be a good form of exercise apart from running or jogging. - Well-balanced diet
Avoid intake of carbohydrate-rich food items such as bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, cereals and beans in your diet as it can make it difficult to control diabetes. Use less salt in your food as high intake of salt can lead to hypertension and high blood pressure. You must also reduce the fat percentage in your diet to prevent Atherosclerosis. - Hydration
Stay well-hydrated by eating lots of water during the day. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day, especially in summers. However ensure that you don’t have too much water as that too can harm your kidneys. Consult a physician who will tell you how to maintain a proper balance in you water intake. - Stop Smoking
Smoking or consuming products containing tobacco is also very harmful for the proper functioning of your kidneys. It can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and also increase your blood pressure level and heart rate. - Control diabetes
Keep a control on your sugar levels because diabetes is the most common cause of renal diseases such as ESRD, end stage renal disease. It will result in loss of kidney function and you will have to go in for transplant or dialysis. - Blood pressure
Keep checking your blood pressure regularly as high blood pressure leads to hypertension, which is the most common cause of renal diseases. High BP can also cause heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and other kidney diseases. Regular tests will help you to control your BP and thus prevent kidney failure. - Drugs and Medication
Stay away from drugs to protect your kidneys. There are also some over-the-counter prescription medicines such as ibuprofen or anti-inflammatory medicines that can disrupt the normal functioning of kidneys. Some herbs and supplements are also known to be harmful for kidneys; so ensure that you don’t consume them. - Follow-ups
People who are already suffering from some form of kidney diseases must follow-up with their doctors to avoid complications later.
10. Regular check-up
Visit your family physician regularly to get a routine health check-up. This can help you monitor your health and protecting your kidneys.
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