Chronic kidney disease is characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function. The kidneys are vital for filtering excess fluids and wastes from the blood. With advanced kidney disease, there is a dangerous build-up of wastes, fluids, and electrolytes in the body. In many cases, people aren’t aware that they have the disease until they are in the advanced stages. While chronic kidney disease is an irreversible condition, there are ways to slow kidney disease progression. Here are six things you can do to slow down the progression of kidney disease.
Go For Regular Checkups
Certain individuals have a higher risk of developing kidney disease due to having high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, being overweight, or having a family history of kidney disease. It’s very important to go for regular kidney screening tests if you have any of the above conditions. The two main screening tests are the urine test and the blood test. The urine test will reveal the albumin levels in your urine. If the test shows that you have this protein in your urine, it means that your kidneys are not filtering your blood properly. The blood test is taken to check your creatinine levels. This waste product builds up in your blood when there is kidney damage. Using a mathematical formula, your GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is calculated. While a normal GFR is above 90, if yours is anywhere between 60 and 90, you may have early-stage kidney disease.
Check Your Medication Use
If you have a high risk of developing kidney disease, you should stay away from painkillers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen. These over-the-counter medications can reduce your blood flow and damage your kidney tissue, especially for people over 65 years of age. If it’s absolutely necessary that you take these painkillers, first speak to your doctor to find out if they are safe for you to use. Many of these medications can also make you dehydrated, so it’s important to drink water regularly if you do take them. It’s also helpful to fill your prescriptions at one pharmacy so that it’s easier to monitor your meds. If you have already been diagnosed with kidney disease, it’s vital that you first check with your doctor to ensure that these medications are safe for you to use.
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Keep An Eye On Your Weight
Since obesity is a chronic kidney disease risk factor, maintaining a healthy weight is vital. Obesity can cause scarring and inflammation of the kidney tissue. Maintaining a healthy weight also reduces your high blood pressure and diabetes risk and helps slow kidney disease progression. While certain factors, such as genetics, may be out of your control, there are still certain things you can do to keep your weight at a healthy level. For instance, you can ensure that there is a good balance between the calories you consume and the calories you burn. This can be achieved by watching what you eat and adding more physical activities to your daily life.
Get Regular Exercise
Regular exercise has many benefits for people diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. These benefits include an increase in exercise capacity and improvement in bone health, blood pressure, muscle mass, and cardiorespiratory function. It’s always recommended to talk to your doctor first before starting a new routine to ensure that it is safe and appropriate for your personal needs. You should try and aim for around half an hour or more of daily exercise as often as you can.
Eat Healthily
If you want to slow kidney disease progression, you also need to eat healthily. That means staying away from foods that are too high in salt content. Your diet should ideally contain no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day. It also means eating food that contains an adequate amount of protein and is heart-healthy, such as fruits, veggies, and lean meats. There are also certain things that need to be restricted in the late stages of the disease, such as phosphorus and potassium. Phosphorus can be found in dark-colored sodas.
Stay Away From Tobacco Use
Not only does smoking increase your heart and lung disease risk, but it also has a negative impact on your kidneys. One study found that the chances of kidney disease progression are significantly higher if you are a former or current smoker. So, how exactly does smoking affect your kidneys? Well, smoking raises your heart rate and blood pressure and reduces your GFR flow. Yet, while your risk is still present as a former smoker, it is half that of people who continue to smoke. While quitting smoking may seem like an impossible challenge for many people, the rewards are certainly worth it.
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Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and is for information only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about your medical condition and/or current medication. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking advice or treatment because of something you have read here.