A Guide for Protecting Your Kidney Health: Facts, Signs, and Prevention
Your kidneys play an important role in your urinary system and overall health. Understanding their function can help you identify signs of kidney disease and take important steps toward prevention.
In this post, we will discuss common risk factors and signs associated with kidney disease. Plus, we suggest multiple ways you can protect your kidney health through a healthy lifestyle and proactive medical care.
Kidney Health Facts
According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 7 Adults in the United States are believed to have chronic kidney disease.
Of those adults, 9 in 10 do not know that they have the condition.
Early signs of chronic kidney disease are difficult to recognize. By the time kidney disease is detected, individuals often require more advanced treatments like dialysis or a transplant.
As a result, it is important to be aware of common risk factors and symptoms of unhealthy kidneys. Also, to be proactive about protecting your kidney health through a healthy lifestyle and regular visits to your primary care physician.
Common Risk Factors
Certain factors may make individuals more at risk of experiencing kidney problems. Those risks include:
Age 60 or older
Diabetes
Obesity
Family history of kidney disease
Chronic Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
High blood pressure
Individuals born pre-term or with a low birth weight
Cardiovascular disease
If you have any of the risk factors associated with chronic kidney disease, it is important to share this information with your medical provider.
You may benefit from a yearly kidney function test depending on your age and risk factors.
Signs of Unhealthy Kidneys
Early signs of chronic kidney disease are difficult to detect. But the most common signs will be visible via changes to your urinary system. Such as:
Painful urination
Blood in urine (pink or dark in color)
Increased urge to urinate
Increased thirst
Foamy urine
If you are experiencing any of the above signs of unhealthy kidney function, reach out to a medical provider immediately.
Kidney Health and Kidney Stones
Studies have shown an association between a history of kidney stones and the progression of chronic kidney disease (PubMed).
If you have experienced a kidney stone, you are more at risk of developing another, and may be at an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
However, kidney stones can also be an inherited condition. Not all people who experience kidney stones have long-term kidney problems.
But if you are developing stones, it’s important to talk to a professional about kidney treatments and prevention
Kidney Disease Prevention Tips
Below are several tips you can follow to protect your kidney health.
1. Regular Exercise
Regular exercise and daily physical activity are important for all areas of health, and your kidneys are no exception.
Aerobic exercises like walking, running, swimming, and biking can help individuals maintain a healthy body weight and control blood pressure. Low-resistance strength training can also help keep your muscles strong and prevent injury that leads to a sedentary lifestyle.
But if you have already been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, your physical activity may be limited. It’s important to consult your doctor before performing any strenuous activity.
2. Stay Hydrated
One of the most common reasons for the formation of kidney stones is a lack of water in the body. Hydration is a simple, but crucial step toward protecting your kidney health.
How much water you need will depend on your biological sex and body weight. There is no single answer for how much water to drink daily, but a general recommendation is:
For men: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) per day
For women: About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) per day
3. Quit Smoking
Smoking can harm your kidneys in multiple ways. It can increase your risk of developing kidney cancer, lead to increased blood pressure, and cause long term damage to your cardiovascular system.
It can also impact the effectiveness of specific medications and treatments for chronic kidney disease, which can accelerate the progression of the disease and impact eligibility for a transplant (if one is required).
If you need help quitting smoking, talk to your primary care physician or renal nurse for recommendations and support.
4. Manage Your Blood Sugar
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney failure. High glucose levels place extra strain on the kidneys, which can lead to long-term damage.
If you are diabetic, maintaining healthy blood sugar levels can be a more complex and challenging task. Make sure to discuss with your physician how to best manage blood sugar levels through medication or lifestyle changes.
5. Get a Kidney Function Test
A medical exam is the best way to confirm that your kidneys are in good health.
Your medical provider may issue a kidney function test. These are tests that evaluate how well the kidneys are working.
There are three main types of tests that you may be issued to confirm your kidney health:
Blood Pressure Test: High blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure. High blood pressure may be a sign of chronic kidney problems
Urine Test: This text checks for traces of the protein albumin in the urine, which is an early sign of kidney disease
Blood Test: A Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) measures how well the kidneys are filtering blood. A low rate can indicate kidney disease
If you are experiencing any of the risk or symptoms of kidney disease discussed in this post, consider requesting one of the above tests from your primary care physician.
Be Proactive About Kidney Health
Regular visits to a medical provider are important for detecting kidney problems early on and identifying necessary prevention steps or treatment plans.
Your medical provider may make a recommendation to see a nephrologist or a urologist, depending on your symptoms or risk factors.
Urologists specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of diseases that affect the kidneys, like kidney stones or obstructions.
If you are in Oklahoma and have been encouraged to see a urologist for kidney health concerns, contact us to schedule a consultation.