Read on best ways to reduce kidney disease, symptoms etc. in the most natural way possible.
What is Kidney Disease?
The kidneys are bean shaped, twin, fist-size organs located at the end of the rib cage on either side of the spine. They accomplish various functions; the most important action is removing the waste products of metabolism and remove excess water and other impurities from the blood. These waste products are stored in the bladder and later ejected from the body as urine.
Furthermore, the kidneys regulate pH levels, salt, and potassium content in the body. They produce hormones that regulate blood pressure and control the formation of red blood cells. The kidneys also activate a form of vitamin D that helps the body to absorb calcium to build strong bones and control muscle function.
The main action of kidney is to remove waste products from your blood through urine. Kidneys are essential to having a healthy body.
This article will make you understand the causes, types and symptoms of kidney diseases. Treatment of kidney disease is a major part of this content. However, the 9 simple ways to reduce risk of kidney disease is main focus of the article.
What Causes Kidney Disease?
You get prone to Kidney diseases when one or more conditions damage your kidneys and it does not operates properly. In this case, you may suffer from the health problems such as high blood pressure, delicate bones, nerve damage, and poor nutritional health. Diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and many other chronic conditions can cause kidney disease. In worse conditions, the kidneys completely fail to work that ultimately will require dialysis (a medical technique) to clean your blood.
Kidney diseases occurs when your kidney does not perform its function properly. Risk factors include:
- High blood pressure
- Other family members with history of chronic kidney disease
- Belonging to a demographic area with a history of high diabetes rates and high-blood pressure rates mostly African, people from Asians countries and Pacific Islands.
You get prone to Kidney diseases such as:
- Chronic kidney disease caused by High blood pressure and Diabetes
- Kidney Stones
- Polycystic Kidney Disease
- Urinary Tract Infections
What Are The Symptoms Of Kidney Diseases?
Kidney disease is a condition that you may not notice until the symptoms become severe and condition worsens.
The following symptoms are the initial signals that you might get prone to kidney disease:
- Not able to concentrate
- Lack of appetite
- Cramping of muscles
- Swollen feet and ankles
- Puffiness around eyes in morning
- Dry and scaly skin
- Increased urination, mostly during late evenings
Severe symptoms that might indicate that your kidney disease is rolling into kidney failure include:
- Loss of appetite
- Changes in urine output
- Fluid retention
- Decreased sex drive
- Sudden rise in potassium levels (hyperkatemia)
- Decreased immune response
- Inflammation of sac around heart—pericarditis
How to Diagnose Kidney Disease?
Consult your doctor to determine the early symptoms of kidney failure and the risks involved. Doctors may use different methods and may conduct tests to determine whether your kidneys are functioning properly or not. These tests include:
- Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
- Ultrasound or CT Scan
- Kidney Biopsy
- Urine Test
- Blood Creatinine Test
After the reports of test are available your doctor will let you know the further course of action.
How to Treat Kidney Disease?
- Eat healthy foods
- Exercise regularly
- Controlling and Maintaining blood sugar level
- Controlling and Maintaining blood pressure
- Limit salt intake
- Drink lots of water
- Quit smoking
- Avoid OTC Drugs And Try Natural Remedies
- Visit doctor regularly to check kidney functions
Treatment of kidney diseases typically focuses on controlling the basic causes of the kidney disease. Your doctor will prescribe you Drugs and Medication to control blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol levels. Making Dietary and Lifestyle Changes is also advisable and are as important as taking medications. The causes of kidney disease are mostly dependent on your daily diet and lifestyle. Let me brief you the 9 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Kidney Disease, by making easy changes in your life and diet
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1. Eat healthy foods
A healthy diet i.e. eating fruits, vegetables, nuts and lean cuts of meats are important for preventing chronic kidney diseases. This will lower the cholesterol levels in your body and keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. Eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid foods that are high in saturated fat because this will raise your cholesterol level.
Foods that are high in saturated fat include:
- Meat pies
- Sausages and fatty cuts of meat
- Ghee (a type of butter mostly used in Indian cooking)
- Hard cheese
- Cakes and biscuits
- Foods that contain coconut oil or palm oil
Foods high in unsaturated fat that will help to reduce your cholesterol levels are:
- Oily fish
- Nuts and seeds
- Sunflower oil
- Rapeseed oil
- Olive oil
2. Exercise regularly
Regular exercise will help lower your blood pressure and reduce risk of developing Chronic Kidney Disease. Minimum 150 minutes i.e. 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activities like cycling or fast walking every week, is recommended.
Additional Tip: Healthy eating and regular exercise
Regular exercise and a healthy balanced diet are recommended for everyone, it is not just limited to people with kidney disease. These can help prevent many conditions such as heart disease and some types of cancer. Exercising regularly can help you to get relieved from stress and reduce fatigue. Try eating a balanced diet that includes food from all categories, to provide your body with essential nutrition. People suffering from kidney diseases can seek advice from a dietitian. Your diet plan depends upon your current functioning of kidneys, blood test reports and your own preferences of food that you normally eat and drink.
3. Controlling and Maintaining blood sugar level
Avoid eating sugar including Fructose and Soda. A diet rich in sugar can create kidney stones as sugar affects the mineral concentrations in your body by interfering with calcium and magnesium absorption. The intake of unhealthy sugars and soda by children is a main cause of small children as young as five or six year old now developing kidney stones.
According to one South African study, it was found that drinking soda worsens conditions in your urine that leads to the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stone problems. Excessive Sugar may also increase kidney size and creates pathological changes in your kidney, like formation of kidney stones.
4. Controlling and maintaining blood pressure
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will cause high blood pressure and also raises cholesterol levels in your blood. Therefore, it is recommended to limit your alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension) and Chronic Kidney Diseases.
5. Limit salt intake
Limit the amount of salt intake in your diet. No more than 6g (0.2oz) a day of salt is to be consumed. Too much salt increases the risk of high blood pressure. One teaspoonful of salt is equal to around 6g i.e. sufficient and ideal amount to be consumed in a day.
While purchasing food, always make a habit of reading food labels, especially the sodium content of that product. Compare different brands of the same food item and select the brand that has the lowest sodium content. Buy spices or seasonings that do not contain sodium on their labels, like purchase garlic powder instead of garlic salt.
6. Drink lots of water
The human body can survive for weeks without food, but only for days without fluid. There is no option for the body to store fluid. The body needs to replenish the blood and perform other body functions of the lungs, skin and urine properly. Fluid controls your body’s temperature through perspiration. Fluid is required so that the kidneys are flushed. The kidney eradicates waste via urine and transmits nutrients and other substances within the body.
Fresh supplies of fluid and especially water are needed every day to avoid dehydration. Water is the most essential fluid to satisfy thirst. It is easily and readily available that will have a positive impact on your health.
7. Quit smoking
Smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks or heart strokes. It also increases the possibility any existing kidney condition worsening.
If you quit smoking, your overall general health improves and reduces the risk of increasing other serious problems like lung cancer and heart disease.
8. Avoid OTC Drugs And Try Natural Remedies
Kidney disease may occur due to improper use or taking too much of non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen that can cause kidney damage. If you need to take painkillers then ensure to follow the instructions and take the correct dosage. If normal doses of these drugs are not effective in controlling pain then seek medical help to avoid kidney damage.
Use natural remedies to cure kidney problems. Focus on eating a balanced diet and drink plenty of water.
9. Visit the doctor regularly to check kidney functions
If you have a family history of kidney disease, then you should visit the doctor regularly for kidney checkup. The symptoms of kidney disease are not known until the damage has relatively progressed. So regularly consulting a doctor will keep a check on kidney functioning and in case any harm is noticed, the treatment can be started from the initial stage itself.
Now you are aware of the best and simple ways to reduce kidney diseases. Along with treatment using drugs, some changes in diet and alteration in lifestyle can reduce kidney problems.
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