9 Ways To Protect Your Kidneys

You have heard of “dialysis machine”. I hope we will ever need one. If you know how to protect your kidneys, then you are safe. Kidney dysfunction means the kidneys have lost their ability to effectively filter waste and excess water from the blood. That’s when you need the dialysis machine to help your kidneys do the job. The process is a costly and time-consuming exercise and worst of all, your health is compromised for the rest of your life. You may want to take heed of the 9 ways to protect your kidneys.

Our kidneys are one of the vital organs which maintain our well-being. Actually all our body organs are equally important for maintaining our general well-being. Our kidneys are responsible for maintaining our body’s internal equilibrium of water and minerals. They are more than mere disposal of waste water in the form of urine. Our kidneys also function as part of the endocrine system assisting in the production of red blood cells and calcitriol which is vital for bone formation.

So much on the importance of our kidneys. Now about the 9 ways to protect your kidneys.

1.Reduce Salt Intake. You must reduce salt intake. I have made this decision when I was diagnosed to have high blood pressure. Too much salt is a killer. When the body has too much salt, it responds by retaining more water which will increase the blood pressure. In the long run the kidneys will be affected. You should avoid especially snack foods like nuts with salt.

2.Reduce High Protein Foods. Over consumption of high protein foods like red meats will cause the kidneys to work twice as hard. If this is prolonged, the kidneys may become weak and problems will arise. Please eat more vegetables, fruits and fish.

3.Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure Levels. As a rule, any blood pressure level below 120/80 is excellent, so long as it is not below 90/60 which is considered low pressure. Our blood pressure should not be over 130/90. With a persistent high blood pressure of over 140/90 the kidneys will be damaged within 5 years! My b/p once shot up to a dangerously high of 175/120! After this worrying episode, I am now on permanent medication for high blood pressure. My b/p levels are now at the acceptable levels of around 120/80, give and take a bit. To maintain a good level of blood pressure, you need to watch your diet. Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and nuts without salt. You should avoid processed foods and alcoholic and carbonated drinks which contain tons of sugar, another killer substance.

4.Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar (or Blood Glucose) Level. High blood sugar level (or blood glucose level) signifies diabetes. Take note that uncontrolled diabetes for 5 to 10 years may lead to kidney damage. The normal blood sugar level is around 5.5 mmol/L (or 100mg/dL) in the morning before the first meal, technically called “the fasting level”. My previous blood sugar level was 5.9 mmol/L, not that healthy. Because of that result, I did a special blood glucose test and was relieved to be informed that I was not diabetic.

A few days ago, I had my blood test again. I shall update my results after consultation with my doctor on this coming December 9.

5.Drink Sufficient Amount Of Water. Drinking sufficient amount of water will prevent formation of kidney stones and also will reduce risk of urinary tract infection. A rough guideline for an average person is 8 glasses of water per day. For me, I don’t think I drink 8 glasses of water a day. Maybe 6 glasses. It very much depends on the person’s size, occupation, and climatic conditions. I am of small size and I don’t do a lot of physical work. So you need to use your own discretion to drink sufficient amount of water. Please note, ironically, over consumption of water can cause negative effect on your health, especially your kidneys!

6.Be Careful Of Intake Of Pain Relievers And Other Drugs. Pain relief drugs like the popular Ibuprofen may cause damage to kidneys if taken for a long period of time. There are also certain drugs that are not friendly to your kidneys. So be very careful of what prescriptions you are taking for long period. If possible, choose the over-the-counter paracetamol tablets which are milder and safer for pain relief.

7.Be Careful Of Medical Tests And Procedures Using Contrast Dyes. Medical tests such as CT Scan, MRI and angiograms may use contrast dyes to produce clearer images. These dyes may cause kidney damage. So be careful, especially if you are 60 years and above.

8.Control Vitamin C Intake. Excessive intake of vitamin C may lead to formation of kidney stones. As a general guide, one should refrain from taking more than 500mg vitamin C per day.

9.Get A Kidney Check-Up. This is something that most people failed to do, for two main reasons. Reason number one is the financial cost involved. And the second is of course complacency. Quite honestly, I never had it done all my life. LOL! Kidney check-up will include a complete blood count, creatinin level and a urine analysis. Any trace of protein in the urine may indicate kidney problem.

Prevention is better than cure. Protect your kidneys before they destroy your valuable life. Remember, there is no cure for kidney failure; and the only two options available are kidney transplant or be dependent for life on the kidney dialysis machine which is very time consuming and costly. Hope you keep healthy and be happy.

Below is the youtube video by Dr. Willie Ong on “9 Ways To Protect Your Kidneys”.

The information provided in this article is sourced from the internet, from friends and contacts, and from personal experience. This article does not claim the information provided is totally accurate and reliable. The purpose of this article is merely to share health information which I deem useful.

You are therefore advised to consult your registered medical physicians as a matter of due diligence.

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