10 Ways to Prevent Chronic Kidney Disease
As part of our Beyond Medicine series on Lifestyle Demons, we discussed lifestyle diseases and risk factors that cause chronic kidney disease. Kidneys are a pair of fist-sized organs that are found at the back of the abdomen next to the spine. Their main functions are to remove waste products and excess fluids from the body, as well as maintain electrolyte balance. Another function of the kidneys is to help control blood pressure.
The most common lifestyle causes of kidney disease are diabetes, high blood pressure, and smoking. Some other risk factors include family history, ethnicity, injury, cancers and autoimmune diseases. When people have Type 2 diabetes (T2D), they have a higher risk of high blood pressure and they need to have their kidney function tests done regularly.
Damage to the kidneys occurs when blood vessels get damaged due to high blood sugar levels and other risk factors. The large arteries supplying blood to the kidneys, and smaller blood vessels, which are in the filtering system of the kidneys, both become damaged. This leads to inadequate blood supply to the kidneys as well as leaking of nutrients like protein (albumin), electrolytes, and water from the filtering system. When the filtering system is affected, not enough toxins and waste products are excreted and start to build up in the blood. Increasing levels of waste products accumulating in the blood makes us feel sick and damages other organs including the kidneys.
When the kidneys are suffering, they usually do not cause any pain. Signs and symptoms of kidney disease are vague and may include weakness and tiredness; difficulty sleeping; dry itchy skin; passing blood in urine; foamy urine or swelling of ankles. It is too late by then and for this reason, it is important to know the causes and risk factors for kidney disease and take preventive measures.
Apart from diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking, other causes of chronic kidney disease include chronic kidney infection (glomerulonephritis), polycystic kidneys, and blocked urinary passage. Chronic kidney diseases can lead to kidney failure, which may necessitate dialysis and/or transplant.
Some important preventive measures to avoid kidney damage due to lifestyle diseases and risk factors, include the following:
- Controlling blood sugar levels in diabetes
- Keeping blood pressure under control in hypertension
- Quitting smoking or keeping away from secondhand smoke, which causes harm to blood vessels
- Using minimum amount of medications to control your lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases
- Drinking adequate amounts of water to help the kidneys flush out toxins and wastes from the blood
- Avoiding alcohol or limiting its intake
- Following a low salt, low fat, and mainly whole food plant-based diet
- Exercising at least 30 minutes a day
- Having regular kidney function tests if you have a lifestyle disease
- Having a general screening checkup once a year if you have risk factors and are over the age of forty.
To prevent damage to the kidneys, look at what lifestyle conditions you have. Come up with a plan to address the 10 factors listed above as they relate to you. Start somewhere, and keep going one step at a time. Be sure to discuss all your goals with your primary care physician and be sure to track your progress. Share with me how you’re coping at Margaret@alchemusprime.com
