What are some ways to take care of your kidneys?
- Have a well-balanced diet
- Exercise regularly
- Quit smoking and vaping
- Keep yourself hydrated
- Be cautious with supplements and medication
- Get screened
Each body comes with a pair of kidneys, two organs that are a key part of our overall health. They filter our blood to get the nutrients we need while discarding anything that we don’t by transforming it into urine.
Just like any organ, various health conditions cause our kidneys to stop functioning. This is called chronic kidney disease. Conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure are some of its common causes.
That’s why it’s important to know how to take care of your kidneys. This article explains different ways you can maintain your kidneys. There are some things you can do every day, but most of the time, it’s best to see your doctor for screening. Keep reading to learn more!
Have a well-balanced diet
Your kidneys are responsible for processing everything that you eat and drink, whether they are good or bad for your body.
If you constantly feed your body with food high in cholesterol and salt, it can lead to high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. It’s from those conditions that kidney problems arise.
To control your weight and blood pressure, make it a point to follow healthy eating habits. Start by reducing your salt intake by limiting processes and restaurant food. This can keep your kidneys in good condition by preventing diseases early on.
Exercise regularly
One of the most important aspects of taking care of your kidneys is to prevent weight gain and high blood pressure. This is best done through regular exercise or physical activity.
As doctors say time and time again, it’s important to keep your body active for at least 30 minutes a day. This can be as simple as walking around the block or a few laps in the pool.
This does not mean that you must overexert yourself with high-intensity exercises at the gym. To those with a high risk for heart disease, this is especially important. Overexerting yourself when you’re not ready can lead to serious problems.
Take extra caution by talking with your physician or cardiologist before embarking on a new workout program.
Quit smoking and vaping
Smoking has several negative and deadly threats to your body. In the case of your kidneys, this vice can damage blood vessels. This in turn decreases the blood flow around your body — including towards your kidneys.
When your kidneys don’t have enough blood flowing through them, they are unable to function at their optimal levels. Another side effect of smoking is that it increases the risk of high blood pressure, as well as kidney cancer.
In the case of vapes and other electronic cigarettes, these don’t expose users to the same amount of tobacco smoke. However, the nicotine in these chemicals can still be addictive, which takes a toll on the body.
Keep yourself hydrated
Water plays an important role in our kidneys. For our kidneys, water is responsible for transporting nutrients toward both kidneys while moving the waste to the bladder as urine.
When you don’t drink the prescribed 4 to 6 glasses of water a day, the filters in your kidneys can stop functioning. This leads to kidney stones and other infections. This can even happen when you are mildly dehydrated.
Be cautious with supplements and medication
The common non-prescription pills that we take can also inadvertently cause damage to your kidney. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can cause kidney damage if you take too many at once. So, be sure to check the correct dosage before taking them.
Aside from prescription pills, you should also take caution when taking herbal supplements. These can be harmful and cause kidney damage.
Never self-prescribe your medicines. Consult with your doctor if it’s safe for you to be taking certain medicines. This is important to those taking painkillers for chronic pain and arthritis. They can prescribe alternatives for you and your condition.
Get screened
Early detection is important even with kidney diseases. You can do this by getting screened. The earlier you catch symptoms, the easier it becomes to treat and even stop. This can be helpful for those who are diagnosed with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
When you have family and close relatives who suffer from heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, we recommend getting screened and checked by your doctors regularly.
Key Takeaway
This article showed us how to take care of your kidneys. Many of these tips showed that taking care of your body is still the best way to reduce the chance of developing various diseases. Kidney dysfunction is like an offspring of various conditions, so it’s important to learn how to prevent those conditions from straining your kidney functions.
If you’re looking for a kidney and dialysis center in Las Piñas, you can visit us at Perpetual Help Medical Center-Las Pinas (PHMC-LP). We are equipped with extensive high-quality facilities for all your medical requirements. Don’t hesitate to contact us here today.
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