Major Risk Factors for Kidney Disease
Did you know that 1 in 3 adults in the United States is at risk for kidney disease? While it can actually affect anybody, there are some major lifestyle factors that will sharply increase your susceptibility.
Hypertension is a main factor for being at risk of kidney disease and in turn, there are many risk factors involved in having hypertension. It's essentially high blood pressure, which is both a cause and symptom of kidney failure because your kidneys regulate blood flow throughout the body.
Leading a healthy lifestyle will reduce your blood pressure, and therefore reduce your risk of kidney failure. This includes quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet with less sodium, ceasing to drink excessive amounts of alcohol, avoiding obesity and exercising regularly -- not necessarily vigorously, just enough to mitigate a sedentary lifestyle.
Diabetes is the top cause of kidney failure and chronic kidney disease. We've covered the different types of diabetes in previous articles (LINK TO TYPE 1 V TYPE 2), but while type 1 diabetes is genetic, there are steps you can take to avoid type 2. Yet again, it's extremely important to stop smoking, get some exercise and watch what you eat.
There's no "one size fits all" solution when it comes to dietary needs, so seeing a nutritionist will be your best bet if you already have diabetes. Be prepared for constant monitoring of blood sugar, vitamins, fat, fiber, carbs, fat and salt. Generally speaking, diets for diabetics will be low in carbs, fats and calories but high in fiber and nutrients. You'll need to eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy proteins like fish.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans are more at risk for kidney disease. Doctors don't know exactly why this is, but they suspect it's because they have high rates of diabetes and hypertension, both of which are the two major factors for kidney failure. Additionally, lack of access to quality healthcare plays an important role in these statistics.
If you or a loved one are affected by diabetes and/or hypertension, it never hurts to get a check-up. Kidney disease is always fatal if left untreated; and symptoms don't usually arise until the kidneys have significantly declined to an unhealthy level. Our doctors at Milwaukee Nephrologists are all specially trained in all aspects of kidney health and management, so schedule a consultation today.