Habits That Damage Your Kidneys
Our kidneys are super important for our health. They filter our blood, produce hormones, absorb minerals, produce urine, eliminate toxins, and neutralize acids. So as one of the most important organs in your body, your kidneys deserve some love.
Damage or steady decline of your kidneys can often go unnoticed for years as your kidneys can still do their job with as little as 20% of their capacity. Therefore kidney diseases are often referred to as “The Silent Diseases”. That’s why it is so important to take care of them before it is too late.
Not Drinking Enough Water
Your kidney’s most important function is to filter blood and eliminate toxins and waste materials. When you don’t drink enough plain water during the day toxins and waste material start to accumulate and can cause severe damage to your body.
Chewing substances with or without tobacco and risk of Kidney disease in Asia A trillion rupee industry….Highest addiction in India…in my opinion
the way substance drug packets are distributed/sold from every corner outlets..
Too Much Salt In Your Diet
Your body needs sodium or salt to work properly. Most people however consume too much salt which may raise blood pressure and put a lot of stress on the kidneys.
As a good rule of thumb, no more than 5 grams of salt should be eaten on a daily basis.
Eating Processed Foods
Processed foods are significant sources of sodium and phosphorus. Many people who have kidney disease need to limit phosphorus in their diets.
Some studies have shown that high phosphorus intake from processed foods in people without kidney disease may be harmful to their kidneys and bones. Try adopting the DASH diet to guide your healthy eating habits.
Sitting Still
Sitting for long periods of time has now been linked to the development of kidney disease.
Although researchers don’t know yet why or how sedentary time or physical activity directly impact kidney health, it is known that greater physical activity is associated with improved blood pressure and glucose metabolism, both important factors in kidney health.
Frequently Delaying The Call Of Nature
Many of us ignore the urge to go because they are too busy or want to avoid public bathrooms. Retaining urine on a regular basis increases urine pressure and can lead to kidney failure, kidney stones, and incontinence. So listen to your body when nature calls.
Kick the Sugar Habit
Scientific studies show that people who consume 2 or more sugary drinks a day are more likely to have protein in their urine. Having protein in your urine is an early sign your kidneys are not doing their job as they should.
Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
Eating a clean, whole food diet full of fresh vegetables and fruits is important for your overall health and a good kidney function.
Many deficiencies can increase the risk of kidney stones or kidney failure. Vitamin B6 and magnesium, for instance, are super important to reduce the risk of kidney stones.
An estimated 70 to 80 percent of Americans isn’t getting enough magnesium, so there may be a good chance that you are one of them. Click here to learn more about magnesium deficiencies.
Too Much Animal Protein
Over consumption of protein, especially red meat, increases the metabolic load on your kidneys. So more protein in your diet means your kidneys have to work harder and this can lead to kidney damage or dysfunction over time.
Sleep Deprivation
We have all heard how important it is to get a good night’s rest. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to many diseases and kidney diseases are also on the list.
During the night your body repairs damaged kidney tissue, so give your body the time to heal and repair itself.
Coffee Habit
Just as salt, caffeine can raise blood pressure and put extra stress on your kidneys. Over time excessive consumption of coffee can cause damage to your kidneys.
Painkiller Abuse
Way too many people take painkillers for their small aches and pains, while there are many all-natural, safe remedies available. Excessive use or painkiller abuse can lead to severe damage of liver and kidneys.
Alcohol Consumption
Although there is nothing wrong with enjoying a glass of wine or having a beer once in a while, most of us don’t stop after just one drink. Alcohol is actually a legal toxin that puts a lot of stress on our kidneys and liver.
To stay healthy and avoid kidney issues it is important to eat lots of fresh, whole foods and if you keep the above information in mind and avoid these common habits as much as possible, your kidneys will not be under constant stress and your body will thank you for that.
Disclaimer: The information on this POST is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional advice. The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this article is for general information purposes / educational purposes only, and to ensue discussion or debate.
Thank you …“Lack of timely follow-up of abnormal test results can lead to diagnostic or treatment delays,” said lead investigator Kim N. Danforth, ScD, MPH, of the Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “We sought to determine how frequently gaps in timely follow-up of abnormal creatinine/eGFR lab test results occur and to identify potential reasons for those gaps. Our goal was to identify ways to improve test follow-up in the future.”
An abnormal test result may indicate that the kidneys are not working as well as they should, but can also occur when the kidneys are healthy, and follow-up testing is needed to identify patients with kidney disease.
The eGFR test is the best way to estimate the level of kidney function and determine what further tests are needed. The earlier kidney disease is detected, the better the chance of slowing or stopping its progression.
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“Physicians reported high workloads and challenges managing lab test results within the electronic health record (EHR), which is important given growing concerns regarding burnout among primary care providers,” Danforth said. “Efficient processes for managing test results is critical.”
The investigators’ results suggest that better systems and processes are needed to support patients and providers in improving lab test follow-up, consistent with research in other health systems.
“Our study suggested that increasing team-based management of lab test results may help improve follow-up of abnormal results,” Danforth said.
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“This important study should serve as a wakeup call for healthcare organizations nationwide, that ordering lab tests will only change patient outcomes if the results trigger action,” said NKF Chief Scientific Officer Kerry Willis, PhD. “NKF has developed a CKD Change Package to assist providers in transforming their practices to meet this need.”
While prior studies have shown that harm is rare in these patients due to the slow progression of disease, it is important to improve lab test follow-up, Danforth said.
Despite automated notification of patients regarding overdue lab tests, there may be patient-related contributors to delayed or missed follow-up that are understudied.
Future research is needed to improve patient engagement and determine which patients are at greatest risk of harm due to experiencing the gaps in follow-up care.
Kidney Disease Facts
In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD) – and most aren’t aware of it.
1 in 3 American adults is at risk for CKD. Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a family history of kidney failure, and being age 60 or older.
People of African American, Hispanic, Native American,
Asian or Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease.
African Americans are about 3 times more likely than Whites to develop end-stage kidney disease (ESKD or kidney failure).
Compared to non-Hispanics, Hispanics are almost 1.3 times more likely to receive a diagnosis of kidney failure.