Kidney disease has been on the rise with the majority of diagnosed patients being below age 40.
Did you know that certain bad habits can put your kidneys at risk? It’s very important to be aware of them so you can take steps to protect your kidney health. Let’s take a closer look at these habits and what you can do to avoid them.
1. Dehydration
If you have a habit of not drinking water regularly and getting dehydrated, it increases the chances of kidney disease.
Kidneys need an adequate water supply to function well. Dehydration often leads to a condition called Prerenal Azotemia which can lead to a Chronic Kidney Disease. It is advised that the average individual should take from 2-3 liters of water daily (that’s anywhere from 4-5 bottles of water intake per day).
2. Too Much Salt Intake
Salt is a risk factor for high blood pressure which is the second most common cause of kidney failure.
If you have an excessive amount of salt intake, it can cause you to retain water, retain the salt, and can lead to elevated blood pressure which can damage your kidneys.
The average person should take around 2 grams of sodium (salt) or less to reduce the risk of kidney failure.
3. Pain Medications
Pain meds, specifically, Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
Don’t get me wrong, NSAIDs are certainly great anti-inflammatory drugs and if you have no kidney disease and stay well hydrated, then NSAIDs might be alright for you.
People with chronic pains like chronic lower back pains, chronic headaches and migraine, and severe arthritis are at risk of excess intake of these drugs.
This excess intake leads to a condition called NSAID nephropathy.
These drugs should be taken in the right doses.
4. Excessive Alcohol Usage
Excessive alcohol intake can lead to hypertension which is known to be one of the leading causes of kidney failure.
What also happens is that excessive intake of alcohol makes you pass out
5. Smoking Cigarettes
Frequent use of cigarettes can lead to poor blood circulation and inadequate blood supply to the kidneys which results in kidney failure.
Smoking is also a risk factor for renal carcinoma (kidney cancer).
6. Holding back urine for long
Most commonly, holding urine for long causes the urine to back up and cause swelling of the kidneys and often infection. This can damage the kidneys and the infection can spread to the bloodstream and become very serious.
7. Irregular exercise
Irregular exercise and other physical activities can neglect your kidneys, leading to poor kidney function and decreased overall health.
A sedentary lifestyle can cause kidney hemodynamics and electrolytes to become imbalanced, further straining your kidneys. Numerous studies have shown that a lack of physical activity can lead to decreased eGFR levels, resulting in poor kidney health.
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