You may now know that kidneys are vital organs in your body. But what happens if they are not healthy?

The kidneys won’t function appropriately and will not release the toxins and wastes from your blood. The accumulated toxins in your body will adversely affect other organs, and can be life threatening too.

This is why it is crucial for you to maintain your kidney health. Have you ever wondered how to keep your kidneys healthy?

In case you’re looking for an answer, maintaining an active lifestyle and having a nutritious diet may help prevent kidney problems.

You may begin with small changes in your lifestyle and diet to keep up your kidney health.

In this blog, we will share with you some simple lifestyle and dietary tips that can help you keep your kidneys healthy.

Know about your Kidney

Before diving into keeping kidneys healthy, let’s do a brief recap of what kidneys are. The kidneys are small, fist-sized organs that are situated on both sides of your spine, at the base of your rib cage. They serve many purposes.

The most significant function they perform is to filter your blood of waste materials, extra water, and other contaminants. Urine is the subsequent means by which these waste products are released from your bladder.

Know the signs and symptoms of CKD ( Chronic Kidney Diseases)

Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) occur when your kidneys are on the verge of failing to function. Unfortunately, the symptoms of kidney disease aren’t always noticeable, and 40% of people with severely reduced kidney function are not aware they have CKD. Therefore, it’s crucial to know whether you might be at risk.

Here are the risk factors of CKD

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Age (60 and older)
• Family history of CKD

Scheduling your yearly physical examinations with your primary care physician can be of immense help. He/she might prescribe blood tests or urine analysis procedures that can identify kidney disease early and effectively, preventing its advancement.

5-Step Guide to Protecting Kidney Health

Step 1: Know These Facts

Step 2: Assess Your Risk

Step3: Identify the Symptoms

Step 4: Get Tested

Step 5: Stay Healthy

Step 1: Know These Facts You must know the top functions of healthy kidneys to realise why you must keep them healthy.

6 functions of healthy kidneys are:

• They control the amount of fluid in the body
• Remove pollutants and waste products from the blood
• Release a hormone that controls blood pressure
• Turn on vitamin D to keep your bones strong
• Release the hormone that controls the erythrocyte production process
• Maintain the proper ratio of potassium, phosphorus, and sodium in the blood

Next, you must be aware of what can happen if you suffer from kidney disease.

8 Issues that kidney disease may bring up are:-

• Heart attacks and strokes
• Elevated blood pressure
• Life risk
• Fragile bones
• Harm to the nerves (neuropathy)
• End-stage renal disease, also known as kidney failure (ESRD)
• Low red blood cell count or anaemia

Step 2: Assess Your Risk

Once you know the kidney functions and the impact of kidney disorders, the second step to take care of kidneys is to be aware of the risk factors that can cause kidney problems in you.

5 main risk factors are:-

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Heart conditions
• Diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney failure in the family
• Being overweight

Step 3: Identify the Symptoms

Early detection is essential because the majority of patients with kidney disease do not exhibit any symptoms. Kidney disease may already be advanced when symptoms start to show up, and symptoms can also be deceptive. Take note of these:

• Fatigue, weakness
• Difficult, painful urination
• Foamy urine
• Pink, dark urine (blood in urine)
• Increased thirst
• Increased need to urinate (especially at night)
• Puffy eyes
• Swollen face, hands, abdomen, ankles, feet

Step 4: Get Tested

Ask your primary care physician about these tests if you or a loved one is in a high-risk category. Be particularly demanding about the last test. Your physician might also wish to order additional tests.

3 Simple, Life-saving Tests for Kidney Disorder

Step 5: Stay Healthy

6 things you should do if you have a kidney disease:

• Maintain your blood pressure level
• Control your blood sugar
• Cut back on your salt consumption
• Avoid NSAIDs, a type of painkiller
• Consume protein in moderation
• Obtain a yearly flu vaccination

9 things everyone should do to prevent kidney disease:

• Engage in regular exercise
• Manage your weight
• Maintain a well-balanced diet
• Give up smoking
• Limit alcohol intake or do not intake
• Maintain your hydration
• Track your cholesterol levels
• Get a yearly physical examination
• Maintain a healthy weight

What you can do to improve kidney health

Your kidneys are vital to your overall health. These organs are responsible for many functions, from processing body waste to making hormones. That’s why taking care of your kidneys should be a top health priority.

Maintaining an active, health-conscious lifestyle is the best thing you can do to make sure your kidneys stay healthy.

If you have a chronic health condition that increases your risk for kidney damage or kidney disease, you should also work closely with a doctor to watch for signs of loss of kidney function.

FAQ

What should I do to keep my kidneys healthy?

• Eat healthy diet
• Stay active
• Manage your health: Manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
• Keep your blood pressure below 140/90
• Reduce stress
• Stay hydrated
• Avoid certain medications
• Get enough sleep
• Limit alcohol
• Quit smoking
• Take medications as directed by physician

What happens if I have kidney disease?

Many people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) don't have symptoms until the disease is more advanced. Symptoms include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• Loss of appetite
• Swelling in the feet and ankles
• Dry, itchy skin
• Shortness of breath
• Trouble sleeping
• Urinating too much or too little
• Foamy urine

What is CKD?

CKD is chronic kidney disease. CKD is defined as a decreased level of kidney function or the evidence of kidney damage for greater than three months. Individuals at risk for developing kidney disease are those with diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease.

Why are the kidneys so important ?

The kidneys are the master chemists of the body. They filter and remove waste products from the blood, remove extra water from the body, adjust levels of minerals and chemicals in your body and produce hormones that help control your blood pressure and help make red blood cells.

What can I do to protect my kidneys ?

There are a number of ways you can protect your kidneys and slow the progression of CKD. Good blood pressure control, diet modifications, smoking cessation and if you are a diabetic, keeping your blood sugar in a safe range are all ways that can positively affect your kidney function. In addition, keep informed about your test results, ask questions, and be involved in your treatment plan. You are the most important member of your health care team.