Maintaining good health of the kidneys is vital to general health. Kidney disease is a serious public health concern that often goes undetected until it gets advanced, unfortunately resulting in the need for dialysis among most patients. People are at greater risk of developing kidney disease when they are having diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of kidney failure.
Kidney disease is preventable and some lifestyle changes can help keep the kidneys in good shape. Let’s have a look at the secrets for a long-lasting healthy functioning kidney.
1.Eat healthy
Having a balanced diet ensures that all the necessary nutrition is taken up by the body. Eat lots of green vegetables and fresh fruits and grains. The consumption of fatty or salty foods must be limited.
2.Keep body well-hydrated
Drink plenty of water so that the kidney functions properly and straw-colored urine comes out. If the body becomes dehydrated due to excessive sweating, it must be restored by increasing the intake of water. It must be noted that drinking excess water daily won’t help the kidneys work better, hence it is not advised to have not more than 6-8 glasses of water per day.
3.Regularly check blood pressure
Keep the blood pressure in check (ideally between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg) as it can increase the likelihood of having kidney problems. If it is highly, go for prescribed blood pressure medications and suggested lifestyle changes.
4.Stop smoking and excess intake of alcohol
Smoking and drinking too much alcohol elevate blood pressure which is the most common cause of kidney disease
5.Maintain a healthy body weight
Having a slim figure reduces the chances of having hypertension which in turn is bad for kidneys. Try to maintain body weight next to ideal body weight by keeping active and not doing overeating
6.Daily exercise
People must aim for moderate-intensity exercise like walking, cycling, and swimming daily for 30 minutes. This can help stave off increased body weight and raised blood pressure.
7.Do not overindulge herbal remedies and supplements
Some supplements and herbal products can be harmful to the kidney if taken in excess. Do consult the healthcare provider about them if planning their intake.
8.Avoid overdoing of over-the-counter drugs
Some non-prescription pills such as Non-steroidal inflammatory drugs like napr-oxen and ibupr-ofen can lead to kidney damage if taken regularly over a long period. Usually, they are taken to get relief from chronic pain or arthritis. In such as case, it’s better to talk to the doctor about regular monitoring of the kidney function or finding alternative pain control methods.
9.Schedule for regular kidney function screening
For people who have high blood pressure, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease, the general physician must screen for kidney dysfunction as a part of their regular care. This is because these individuals pose a greater risk of having kidney disease.
One must go for regular health check-ups to ensure their body health. With initial preventive care and diagnosis the onset of particular diseases can be detected and managed.