Doctor's Tips

 There are certain rules to follow in order to keep kidney health intact. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers encourage the following lifestyle habits to ensure healthy kidneys and overall health. 

1. Maintain a healthy and balanced diet. 

        Most kidney problems arise from other medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular problems. Eating a healthy diet will help control weight and blood pressure. Eating a healthy diet that is low in sodium and processed meats could help prevent kidney damage. Foods that are low in sodium, such as blueberries, broccoli, and more are favorable. Preventing hypertension and diabetes will help keep the kidneys functioning correctly. 

2. Remain active

        Keeping an active lifestyle and exercising regularly can help lower the risk of chronic kidney failure. Being physically active will also lower one's blood pressure and can improve heart health. As previously mentioned, cardiovascular health is important as impaired heart health can cause kidney damage. 

3. Quit smoking

        Smoking has the capability to damage the blood vessels thus decreasing the blood flow to the kidneys. Smoking may also increase the risk of high blood pressure and different types of cancers. Along with smoking, it is not recommended to vape as nicotine has harsh effects on the body, is addictive, and has various unknown chemicals. 

4. Hydration

        Consistently drinking water is beneficial for overall health. Drinking around 1.5-2 liters a day is recommended, but there are other factors that could increase or decrease this amount. Drinking water will help clear the toxins and sodium from the kidneys. People who have previously suffered from kidney stones should drink more water to help prevent further kidney stones. 

5. Be aware of the amount of over the counter pills consumed

        Nephrologist James Simon, M.D. states, "Common non-prescription pills like ibuprofen and naproxen (NSAIDs) can cause kidney damage if taken too regularly over a prolonged period". If the patient has arthritis or chronic pain, talking to the doctor about monitoring kidney function is very important. There are alternative methods to dealing with pain that are kidney-safe. 

6. Get regular kidney function testing if at risk. 

        A regular kidney function test is a great way to stay on top of your health, especially if you are in a more "at-risk" category. Being ahead of kidney disease is a great way to control/manage the progression of the disease. Some "at-risk" categories include: being over 60 years old, family history of cardiovascular disease/hypertension, obesity, having cardiovascular disease/hypertension, and people who were born at low birth weight.

Sources: 

Healthline Editorial Team. (2020, May 29). 8 Ways to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy
     (J. Choi, Ed.). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/
     kidney-health#stay-active

7 Secrets to Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy. (2019, August 16). Cleveland Clinic.
     https://health.clevelandclinic.org/7-secrets-to-keeping-your-kidneys-healthy-2/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Peritoneal Dialysis Background

Image
      Peritoneal dialysis differs from hemodialysis as it is done through the peritoneum (lining of the abdomen) rather than through the blood. Surprisingly, peritoneal dialysis as a treatment began much earlier than hemodialysis, however, there were complications with accessing the perineal cavity-causing treatment to take a pause. Peritoneal dialysis was first introduced in the 1920s and was further developed in the 1960s with the development of intermittent peritoneal dialysis. The development of this was conducted in three locations; Seattle under Henry  Tenckhoff; Montpelier, France under Charles Mion; and in Toronto. Peritoneal dialysis was further developed due to patients that were not able to undergo treatment of hemodialysis and gave more options for patients with ESRD. The development of peritoneal dialysis is important as it gives patients control over their disease.      It is important to note that there are two kinds of peritoneal dialysis. There is Continuous Ambulatory
Read more

Hemodialysis Access

Image
      With hemodialysis, there are two kinds of catheters that allow for access. The first type of catheter is temporary vascular access devices/short-term catheters. This type of catheter is used on a temporary basis to gain access to the bloodstream for hemodialysis. They may be inserted in the subclavian vein, jugular, and femoral. This type of temporary catheter is used for a variety of reasons such as: when immediate access to the bloodstream is needed, waiting for a graft of AVfistula to mature, after removing permanent access, and before initiation of peritoneal dialysis.       The second type of catheter used for hemodialysis is permanent vascular access devices/long-term catheters. Permanent catheters are used when patients no longer have vascular access anywhere else. They are an exterior catheter with an internal cuff applied to keep it in place. Surgeons will insert these catheters and will be immediately used after the surgery is complete. With these types of catheters, th
Read more

Meet Amelia

Image
       Amelia is an 80-year-old woman who has started peritoneal dialysis 2 years ago. She has granted permission to share her story about being on peritoneal dialysis. Despite Amelia's age, she keeps an active lifestyle with her immediate family. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her grandchildren, and taking walks. Amelia is still a very independent woman and was a candidate for CCPD. She was diagnosed with diabetes in her 50s, cardiovascular complications, and hypertension, aside from kidney failure. The doctors believed that kidney failure was caused by diabetes. Amelia was diagnosed with kidney disease after she had passed out one day. Her daughter took her to the doctor's and she was diagnosed with kidney failure. The doctors and Amelia decided that peritoneal dialysis was the best fit option for her lifestyle. Beginning peritoneal dialysis was at first difficult for her as it took her some time to understand the different ports in her body. After a few months, Ameli
Read more