Aerobic Exercise Reduces The Risk For Chronic Kidney Disease
Your cardiovascular health is very closely tied to your kidney health. When your heart and blood vessels become damaged or work inefficiently, it has a direct impact on how your kidneys function. Conversely, anything you do to keep your heart healthy is going to benefit the rest of your body.
There is nothing wrong with lifting weights and building muscle, but the best way to improve your heart health is through aerobic exercise. These are exercises that you participate in over an extended period of time like running, swimming, biking, and rowing. Aerobic exercises strengthen your heart and lungs, leading to healthier kidneys.
You dont have to become a world-class athlete to get the benefits, either. The World Health Organization recently updated its guidelines and recommends getting 150-300 minutes of exercise per week. That may sound like a lot, but it averages out to 2143 minutes per day.
Choose Foods With The Right Amount Of Potassium
When your kidneys are not working well, your potassium level may be too high or too low. Having too much or too little potassium can cause muscle cramps, problems with the way your heart beats and muscle weakness.
If you have kidney disease, your doctor or dietitian may tell you to lower the amount of potassium in your eating plan.
Use the lists below to learn foods that are low or high in potassium.
Foods low in potassium
When Things Go Wrong
A little more than 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 20 show evidence of kidney disease. Some forms of kidney disease are progressive, meaning the disease gets worse over time. When your kidneys can no longer remove waste from blood, they fail.
Waste buildup in your body can cause serious problems and lead to death. To remedy this, your blood would have to be filtered artificially through dialysis, or you would need a kidney transplant.
You May Like: How Do You Know If You Have A Kidney Infection
What Are The Symptoms
The most common symptom of a kidney or ureter stone is pain.
You might feel pain in your lower abdomen or your flank, which is the area of your back just under your ribs. The pain can be mild and dull, or it can be excruciating. The pain may also come and go and radiate to other areas.
Other possible symptoms include:
Dont Miss: Are Vitamins Hard On Your Kidneys
Talk To Your Doctor About Whether You Need To Limit Phosphorus And Potassium
Phosphorus and potassium are minerals that your body needs for certain processes. Phosphorous helps build strong bones, while potassium helps regulate your heartbeat and keeps your muscles working properly.
If you have CKD, however, these minerals they can build up in your blood, causing problems throughout your body. High levels of phosphorus can pull calcium from your bones, making bones weak and more likely to break, and may cause itchy skin and bone and joint pain. You may need to limit foods high in phosphorous, such as animal protein, dairy, and dark-colored sodas. High levels of potassium can cause heart problems. Your doctor will run blood tests to check your potassium and phosphorus levels. Be sure to ask if youre not sure whether you need to keep tabs on your intake of these minerals.
Recommended Reading: Can Laxative Abuse Cause Kidney Damage
Dont Overdo Certain Medications
NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen and naproxen. They can damage your kidneys if you take too many at once or take them too often. And using proton pump inhibitors for an ulcer or GERD for a long time can raise your chances of chronic kidney disease. You should only take them if your doctor says you need them.
Control Your Portion Sizes
Eating too much of anything, even healthy foods, can be a problem. The other part of a healthy eating plan is portion control, or watching how much you eat.
Good portion control is important in a kidney-friendly eating plan, because you may need to limit how much of certain things you eat and drink.
To help control your portion sizes:
- For packaged foods, check the nutrition facts label to learn the serving size and how much of each nutrient is in one serving. Many packages have more than one serving. For example, a 20-ounce bottle of soda is really two-and-a-half servings.
- For fresh foods that do not have nutrition facts labels, such as fruits and vegetables, ask your dietitian for a list of nutrition facts to measure the right portions.
- Eat slowly and stop eating when you are full. It takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that you are full. If you eat too quickly, you may eat more than you need.
- Avoid eating while doing something else, such as watching TV or driving. When you are distracted, you may not realize how much you have eaten.
Don’t Miss: Is Sugar Good For Kidney Stones
Monitor Your Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure damage the kidneys. In most cases, you dont realize that when blood pressure is high, it is destroying your kidneys. Thus, monitoring your numbers is essential, even if you dont have symptoms.
If you have blood pressure problems, follow the recommendations to reduce salt intake and inform your doctor if you dont reach your blood pressure goals.
What Does A Colon Cleanse Do
Certain aspects of colon cleansing may be beneficial. It may help with issues such as constipation or irregular bowel movements.
Other colon cleanse claims, such as removal of toxins and parasites, are questionable.
There are a few ways to colon cleanse. You can purchase a colon-cleansing product, or you can get a colonic irrigation or enema.
Otherwise, you can do simple things to boost or cleanse colon health naturally at home.
The following natural colon cleanses can be done cheaply, and theyre also quite safe if done correctly.
Reminder: You dont need to do colon cleanses every day or even every so often to be healthy, though they may have health benefits when done sporadically.
Read Also: How Long Until Death When Kidneys Shut Down
Choose Complex Carbs Over Simple Carbs
Carbohydrates are your bodys main source of energy, and those that occur naturally in fresh foods are filled with fiber to support heart and gut health and keep your blood sugar levels steady. However, simple carbs such as added sugars in desserts, sweetened beverages, and many packaged foods can spike blood sugar and increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
As part of an overall healthy diet, you should limit sweets and foods with added sugars , says Maruschak. Healthier carbohydrate choices include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, and lentils.
If you have diabetes and are on insulin, you may need to be even more careful about your carbohydrate intake. It is likely that people will need to count carbohydrates at meal times so they can dose their insulin correctly, says Maruschak.
Limit Your Salt Intake
Sodium sneaks its way into all sorts of places you wouldnt imagine, especially packaged foods such as soups and breads. Limiting your sodium intake helps keep your blood pressure under control. Aim for 2,300 mg per day, according to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration thats about 1 teaspoon of table salt.
If youre at risk of or already have high blood pressure, Maruschak suggests following a low-sodium diet specifically the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension eating plan. Also try these tips to keep your sodium in check:
Also Check: What Does Stage 3 Kidney Failure Mean
What Is Kidney Failure
Kidney failure means one or both kidneys can no longer function well on their own. Sometimes, kidney failure is temporary and comes on quickly. Other times, it is a chronic condition that can get worse slowly over a long time.
Kidney failure may sound serious, and it is. But treatments such as dialysis and kidney transplant help many people with limited kidney function continue to live fulfilling lives.
You May Like: Osteocleanse Reviews
The Water Hydration Technique
You know how most of us generally go for long periods without water, become thirsty and scull the next available glass in about 30 seconds? Have you ever thought what this does to your body? No? I dont blame you.
The actual fact of the matter is that every time you a drink a glass of water in a hurry, you are placing pressure on kidney function. How? Well, seeing as one of the functions of the kidneys is to keep the fluid levels in the blood stream balanced, by drinking a full glass of water at once you are essentially dumping a large amount of water into the blood stream, which the kidneys now need to balance out . By drinking slowly, a mouthful at a time, you reduce the pressure on the kidneys and increase hydration. Sound too simple to do any good? Good. Now try it.
Recommended Reading: Which Flour Is Best For Kidney Disease
What Are The Costs Of Medicines To Lower Your Chance Of Getting Another Calcium Stone
Thiazide diuretics, citrates, and allopurinol are all available in generic form and are usually not very expensive. The costs to you for these medicines depend on:
- Your health insurance
- Review Medicines for Early Stage Chronic Kidney Disease: A Review of the Research for Adults With Kidney Disease and Diabetes or High Blood PressureJohn M. Eisenberg Center for Clinical Decisions and Communications Science. Comparative Effectiveness Review Summary Guides for Consumers. 2005
- Review Medicines for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review of the Research for AdultsJohn M. Eisenberg Center for Clinical Decisions and Communications Science. Comparative Effectiveness Review Summary Guides for Consumers. 2005
- Review Antipsychotic Medicines for Treating Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: A Review of the Research for Adults and CaregiversJohn M. Eisenberg Center for Clinical Decisions and Communications Science. Comparative Effectiveness Review Summary Guides for Consumers. 2005
- Review Medicines for Psoriatic Arthritis: A Review of the Research for AdultsJohn M. Eisenberg Center for Clinical Decisions and Communications Science. Comparative Effectiveness Review Summary Guides for Consumers. 2005
- Review Medicines To Treat Alcohol Use Disorder: A Review of the Research for AdultsJohn M. Eisenberg Center for Clinical Decisions and Communications Science. Comparative Effectiveness Review Summary Guides for Consumers. 2005
You May Like: Wine For Kidney Stones
Kidney Disease: 11 Ways It Can Affect Your Skin
If you have kidney disease, you wont see early warning signs on your skin. However, as the disease progresses, you may develop one or more of the following:
Extremely dry skin. Skin can become so dry that it:
Itchy skin. Extremely itchy skin is a common symptom of advanced kidney disease. The itch can range from irritating to life-disrupting. Your skin may itch all the time.
Some people have itch on one area of their skin. The itch can also spread across most of your body.
Scratch marks and other signs of scratching. When you scratch often, it affects your skin. You can develop:
Color changes to your skin. When the kidneys stop working as they should, toxins build up in your body. This build-up can cause color changes to the skin. You may see any of the following:
Nail changes. Kidney disease can affect the appearance of your fingernails, toenails, or both. People who have advanced kidney disease can develop:
Also Check: Which Of The Following Is A Function Of The Kidneys
Monitor Weight And Eat A Healthy Diet
People who are overweight or obese are at risk for a number of health conditions that can damage the kidneys. These include diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease.
A healthy diet thats low in sodium, processed meats, and other kidney-damaging foods may help reduce the risk of kidney damage. Focus on eating fresh ingredients that are naturally low-sodium, such as cauliflower, blueberries, fish, whole grains, and more.
Ways To Keep Your Kidneys Healthy
Overview
Your kidneys are fist-sized organs located at the bottom of your rib cage, on both sides of your spine. They perform several functions.
Most importantly, they filter waste products, excess water, and other impurities from your blood. These waste products are stored in your bladder and later expelled through urine.
In addition, your kidneys regulate pH, salt, and potassium levels in your body. They also produce hormones that regulate blood pressure and control the production of red blood cells.
Your kidneys are also responsible for activating a form of vitamin D that helps your body absorb calcium for building bones and regulating muscle function.
Maintaining kidney health is important to your overall health and general well-being. By keeping your kidneys healthy, your body will filter and expel waste properly and produce hormones to help your body function properly.
Here are some tips to help keep your kidneys healthy.
Read Also: How To Tell If Your Kidneys Are Failing
S To Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy
Start by asking your doctor for blood panel readings of your BUN and creatinine levels and your eGFR numbers.
| Test | |
| Kidney damage | Greater than 60 mg/min |
Scores from these tests tell you how strong your kidneys are now. Because kidney diseases can be symptom-free, you may not notice anything wrong before youve suffered irreparable damage. To prevent getting in that situation, I advise you to:
Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy
Well-functioning kidneys are essential to your overall health. Early detection of kidney disease can be life-saving. Medication and changes to lifestyle, along with an early referral to a kidney specialist, can prevent or delay kidney failure.
If you are at increased risk of chronic kidney disease, talk to your doctor about having a regular kidney health check.
Don’t Miss: Does Ascorbic Acid Cause Kidney Stones
Take Some Time To Get To Know Them And Protect Them
Donât wait for symptoms to take action. By the time you feel it, it can be badly damaged.
Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney disease.
High blood pressure is the number two cause of kidney disease.
The only way to know if you have kidney disease is to get blood and urine tests.
There are kidney disease treatments, and new research offers hope.
Donât Miss: Aleve Side Effects Kidney
Managing Your Kidney Health
Kidneys are the unsung heroes of our bodies and perform a number of important jobs. They control your blood pressure, clean your blood, create urine, and manage Vitamin D production.
There are several ways to maintain kidney health. Here are our top four:
- Avoid smoking. People who smoke are three times more likely to have reduced kidney function. If you smoke and youd like to take this first step, thats great news. You can call the Quitlink on 13 78 48 or visit www.quitnow.gov.au.
- Be mindful of food and exercise. Eat a balanced diet consisting of fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, proteins and low-fat dairy products. And where possible, minimise long periods of time sitting and be active on most days during the week.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and avoid sodas and fruit juice.
- Minimise alcohol. Excessive drinking can lead to high blood pressure, and this increases the risk of kidney disease. We recommended limiting your intake to less than two standard drinks per day.
Even if you know what is kidney disease, it can be difficult to tell if you have it. If you are in early stages, you will feel normal. There are no obvious signs you can lose up to 90 per cent of kidney function before symptoms appear. Youre most likely to notice kidney disease in the middle stages, as levels of waste in your blood increase and you start to feel unwell.
Also Check: Can You Eat Corn With Kidney Disease
Kidneys Have Lots Of Reserve But Getting Ahead Of Small Decreases In Function Prevents Later Damage
You often hear older people say I have weak kidneys. That doesn’t mean they can’t do their job or are destined to fail. But it does indicate you have some form of chronic kidney disease. The kidneysthe body’s blood-filtering urine factoryhave less capacity to filter toxins from the blood and excrete them in the urine.
Half of U.S. adults over 75 may have below-normal kidney function. Most of them will never get sick from it, unless they have other conditions such as diabetes or uncontrolled hypertension, or take medications that can injure the kidney.