If you are looking at how to improve the health of your kidneys, this article is for you. Many things can cause kidney failure and lead to chronic kidney disease, but ways can also be prevented. Read on for more information about how you can protect your kidneys!
There is no evidence that drinking alcohol can help people with kidney failure. In fact, alcohol can actually make kidney failure worse. Drinking alcohol can damage the liver, which is important for filtering toxins from the blood. It can also lead to dehydration, which can be dangerous for people with kidney failure.
Functions of Kidney
The kidneys are an essential organ that helps maintain the body’s balance of fluids, electrolytes, and other substances. They also remove toxins from your bloodstream. It is necessary to take care of them by drinking plenty of water, eating well-balanced meals, getting enough exercise, and not smoking cigarettes or using drugs. All these things will help improve how healthy your kidneys are!
They remove waste products, extra water, and other impurities from your blood. These by-products are stored in your bladder until you urinate, at which point they are released.
Your kidneys also maintain the acidity, salt, and potassium levels in your body. They also create hormones that control blood pressure and regulate the growth of red blood cells.
Your kidneys are also in charge of a particular kind of vitamin D, which aids your body in absorbing calcium for bone growth and muscular control.
It’s vital to maintain your kidneys in good working order. Your body will filter and eliminate waste effectively if your kidneys are healthy, and it will create hormones that help your body function properly.
Must Read: Functions of The Kidneys
Is Alcohol Bad for your Kidneys?
You should also avoid drinking too much alcohol, as it can damage your kidneys over time. Excessive Alcohol Drinking can cause high blood pressure and make the kidneys work harder to remove toxins from the body. It is best to stick to one or two drinks per day if you want to protect your kidneys!
Kidney Failure
In most kidney failure cases, other health conditions have been going on for a long time. The diseases include diabetes and high blood pressure. Controlling how you treat these can help prevent acute kidney injury in most people. Chronic kidney disease makes up about 80% or more of how kidney failure develops.
When one or both kidneys aren’t capable of performing their function, kidney failure occurs. The kidneys remove waste in the form of urine from the body. They also regulate blood water and electrolyte levels by eliminating salt and moisture from your circulation.
There are two types of kidney failure:
Acute kidney failure,
A severe form of kidney disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It can occur after a traumatic event or poisoning.
Acute kidney failure is an emergency that sends shockwaves through your whole body.
A patient suffering from this condition will likely experience the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain along with fatigue or dry mouth, which can lead to dehydration reflection on their skin.
Acute Kidney Failure occurs when all or part of one’s kidneys fail due to disease, such as undergoing dialysis treatment.
This lack of function leaves them unable to remove waste products from urine. Hence, wastes build up inside, quickly leading towards infection. If left untreated, these complications could be life-threatening, depending on who you ask. Still, luckily there are ways around it by receiving an early diagnosis allowing doctors time enough to make necessary treatments before it’s too late.
Chronic kidney failure
A slow, continuous loss of kidney function that may take years or even decades to cause severe damage. End-stage kidney disease is a chronic kidney disease in which the kidneys have failed. When your kidneys stop functioning correctly, they are said to be “end-stage.”
There are Five (CKD) Chronic kidney disease Stages, each of which has a different severity level.
The stages are based on an eGFR test result and how well your kidneys can filter waste and excess fluid from your circulation. Kidney disease progresses as the steps rise, with your kidneys no longer functioning correctly. It’s critical to take measures to slow down the deterioration.
The five stages of chronic kidney disease are a framework for understanding how your kidneys function. Kidney disease may develop over time. In the early phases (Stages 1–3), your kidneys can filter waste out of your circulation. Your kidneys must work harder in the later stages (Stages 4–5) and may cease to function.
At each stage of CKD, the aim is to take precautions to slow down the harm to your kidneys and keep your kidneys functioning as long as possible.
Doctors will perform numerous tests to determine your stage of chronic kidney disease, including:
Blood Test :
A blood test will measure how much creatinine is in your blood. When your kidneys are damaged, they can’t remove creatinine as well as they should if the creatinine level goes up in your blood. It is a sign that your kidneys aren’t working correctly.
eGFR Test:
An eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) test evaluates how well your kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from your circulation. This is the primary test used to determine your chronic kidney disease stage.
- Urine Test:
A urine test can measure how much protein and creatinine you’re excreting in your urine. Proteinuria is a sign of kidney damage or disease. If excess protein is detected, chronic kidney disease may be present even if the eGFR doesn’t show that your kidneys aren’t working correctly yet.
- Imaging Test:
An imaging test can take pictures of how well your kidneys are working. It also provides measurements that help doctors know how much work the kidneys are doing, how big they are, and any damage. Imaging tests include ultrasounds, computerized tomography scans (CT or CAT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), and X-rays.
How to Improve Kidneys health if you are in:
Stage 1 describes individuals with mild kidney damage and an eGFR of 90 or more.
Your kidneys are generally in excellent condition, with an eGFR of 90 or more most of the time. Protein in your urine (pee) or physical harm to your kidneys might be signs of kidney disease. Here are some ideas for preventing damage to your kidneys in Stage 1 kidney disease:
- If you have diabetes, you can keep track of your blood sugar levels with a monitor.
- Reduce your blood pressure.
- Make sure you eat a balanced diet.
- If you’re quitting smoking, don’t start. Never smoke or use tobacco products.
- Five days a week, you should exercise for 30 minutes.
- Stay at a proper weight.
- Ask your doctor if any medicines can help you prevent kidney damage.
- Sert an appointment to see a nephrologist (kidney doctor) even if you have had a general doctor up until now.
Stage 2: moderate kidney damage and an eGFR of 60 to 89.
Most of the time, an eGFR of 60 to 89 indicates that your kidneys are healthy and functioning well. However, if you have Stage 2 kidney disease, this implies that even though your eGFR is normal, you have other indications of kidney damage. Protein in your urine (pee) or physical kidney damage are two examples of signs of kidney disease. Here are some ideas for how to prevent kidney damage:
- If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar levels in check.
- Keep track of your blood pressure and eat a nutritious diet.
- Stop smoking or using tobacco.
- Get some exercise every day for 30 minutes, five days a week.
- Maintain a healthy weight by being active three times per week
Stage 3: An eGFR between 30 and 59 suggests that your kidneys have suffered some harm and are not functioning as effectively as they should.
Many individuals with Stage 3 kidney disease do not have any symptoms. However, if there are symptoms, they might include:
- Swelling in your hands and feet,
- persistent back pain is joint.
- Urinating (peeing) more or less than usual.
At this point, you are more likely to suffer from health issues that cause accumulation of waste in your body and impaired kidney function, including:
- anemia
- High blood pressure,
- and bone disease are all possible causes.
To keep your kidney from getting worse from Stage 3 kidney disease, you can:
- If you have diabetes, you can control your blood sugar levels.
- If your blood pressure is too high, don’t smoke or use tobacco.
- Three times a week, a healthy diet and exercise are recommended.
- Staying active for 30 minutes each day, five days each week may help to prevent kidney disease from getting worse.
- Make sure you’re eating right and consult with a dietitian.
- Finally, see a nephrologist regularly for blood tests and other evaluations to monitor how your kidneys are doing.
Stage 4: eGFR Between 15 and 29
A modest or severe reduction in the function of your kidneys indicates that they are moderately or severely damaged and are not functioning as they should. Stage 4 kidney disease is painful; it is the final stage before renal failure.
Many individuals experience symptoms of kidney disease at Stage 4, including:
- Swelling of your hands and feet Back
- discomfort Urinating (peeing) more or less than usual
At Stage 4, you may expect to have health issues, such as waste accumulating in your body and your kidneys not functioning effectively, including:
- High blood pressure,
- anemia
- and bone disease are all possibilities.
Your doctor will advise you to follow this plan if your kidney function is still sufficient at this time. To prevent the disease from progressing,
- Make appointments with a nephrologist (kidney doctor) for routine checkups,
- Consult with a nutritionist to develop a nutritious diet plan.
- If your doctor recommends it, take ACE inhibitors and ARBs, blood pressure medications.
- Being diabetic or having high blood pressure are some medications that might help prevent kidney disease from worsening.
Stage 5: Have a GFR of less than 15.
The kidneys work overtime if they have an eGFR of less than 15. If your kidneys fail, waste develops in your blood, making you extremely unwell.
Symptoms of kidney failure:
- Itching
- Muscle cramps
- Feeling unwell and vomiting
- Mild hunger
- Swelling in your hands and feet
- Back pain
- difficulty breathing
- Difficulty sleeping
At this stage, it’s time to start discussing how to prepare for kidney failure with your nephrologist. To live after your kidneys have failed, you will need to begin dialysis or get a kidney transplant.
- Dialysis: cleans your blood when your kidneys have failed. There are several things to consider, such as the sort of dialysis, how to arrange your therapy, and how they will affect your daily routine. Find out more about hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
- Transplant: a surgical procedure that transfers a healthy kidney from another person’s body to yours. If you can locate a living donor, you may not need to start dialysis at all. It’s possible to have a transplant when your kidneys are on the verge of failure. Find out more about kidney transplants.
OVERALL, WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR KIDNEYS HEALTHY
Caffeine and Kidneys
Do some people wonder how many cups of coffee a day are safe for your kidneys? Some studies show that using caffeine can cause acute renal problems in specific individuals, but other studies say consuming small amounts has no adverse effects on the kidneys at all.
Is Coffee Bad for Your Kidneys?
It is essential to note how much caffeine you are drinking. If it has over 500mg of coffee per day, maybe cutting back would be a good idea. Some studies show how using more than 400 mg of caffeine daily can cause acute renal problems in specific individuals, so if you think you might be one of those people, it’s best not to exceed the daily intake of caffeine.
Water and Kidneys
One way to improve the health of your kidneys is by drinking plenty of water each day. It is recommended that men drink around 13 cups per day, and women should drink around nine cups per day. This can help your kidneys function by flushing out toxins and excess fluids.
Exercise for Kidneys
One way to improve the health of your kidneys is by doing some exercises at least three times a week for 30 minutes. This will be good for improving the health of kidneys, but it also helps you lower blood pressure, lose weight, and helps control diabetes.
Food for Kidneys
When you are looking at how to improve the health of your kidneys, it is important to eat well-balanced meals, which means eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, low-fat dairy products, and healthy fats and avoiding processed foods, sugary beverages, and drinks how have caffeine or alcohol is essential.
Read More: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrneph.2017.188
