Every year on March 14, World Kidney Day is observed. The global campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of kidney health and to aid in the early diagnosis of renal disorders. CKD or Chronic Kidney Disease is a progressive disorder where the organs fail to work to their full potential. Your kidneys are a pair of hardworking organs, working to remove extra water and waste from inside your body. They are situated somewhere near the middle of your back, processing close to 190 litres of blood two kg of waste from your system every day. But even this sophisticated cleaning system of your body can sometimes falter due to CKD. If they stop working to their full potential, your body can go into coma or death. To prevent disease and to improve kidney functions, one has to rectify some lifestyle mistakes. Here is a list of important dos and don’ts to improve your kidney health.

Exercise!

Exercise is the cornerstone for good health, but it’s also good for maintaining and improving kidney functions. Keeping a healthy workout routine will keep your blood pressure in check, reducing the risk of CKD. Exercising will also increase muscle strength, lower blood fat levels, improve insulin sensitivity and reduce body weight, all of which are great for your kidneys. Aligarh Man Wanting Six-Pack Abs Ends Up With Kidney Failure: What Are The Side Effects of Steroid Abuse?

Cut Down on Salt

Too much salt would mean too much sodium in your blood, which leads to

Water retention in the body. Too much water in your system can put pressure on the vascular system and reduce the ability of the kidneys to remove excess fluids from the system. Over time, water retention can put a strain on the kidneys and cause it to fail.

Go Easy on Painkillers

Painkillers like NSAIDs, paracetamol and opioids can have severe consequences on kidney functions, especially if you have a kidney problem. Avoid taking compound painkillers that use two or more analgesic drugs since they pose a bigger threat to your kidneys. Avoid taking painkillers for more than ten days.

Monitor Blood Pressure

It’s important to keep your blood pressure in check, because high BP can cause damage to the kidneys. Hypertension can harden, narrow or weaken the blood vessels around the organs, leading to kidney failure. So take your medication, exercise and cut down on salt to keep your blood pressure in the safe range.

Keep Diabetes in Check

Don’t be in denial about your diabetes status and regularly monitor your blood sugar status. Take proper medication, exercise and control your diet to keep the sugar levels in check. Uncontrolled diabetes can wear out the kidneys and lead to failure.

Reduced Processed Food

Processed food contains a lot of sodium, which can lead to water retention and strain on the kidney. These foods also have phosphorus, which can be harmful to kidneys and bones.

Drink Water

The first rule in the Healthy Kidney rulebook is to drink more water. Keeping yourself hydrated can help clear toxins from the system easily. So drinking enough water a day is vital for healthy kidneys.

Deal with Stress

Don’t let stress take control of your life or your kidneys. Stress causes the blood pressure to shoot up, putting a strain on the organs. So you can’t escape stress, manage it with regular meditation, recreation, exercise and proper sleep.

Limit Protein Intake

Proteins are an essential macronutrient, but too much can be bad news for your kidneys. High protein intake leads to the formation of ammonia and nitrogen. The kidneys have to work extra hard to get rid of them, which can put excessive strain on the organs. Instead of going off protein completely, make sure you limit its consumption.

Kidneys are important organs that perform vital bodily functions such as clearing toxins, filtering blood, producing hormones and balancing fluids in the body. It’s not easy to undo kidney damage and may require painstakingly tedious procedures like dialysis or a kidney transplant. Our best bet is to keep our kidneys healthy by following healthy practices.

(This article is written for an informative purpose and should not be substituted for medical advice. Kindly consult your doctor before trying any tips.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 14, 2019 11:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).