How to Prevent Kidney Problems

By Robin Westen

Around 26 million American adults suffer from some kind of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and medical experts predict that number will rise unless we change our lifestyle habits. These tips can keep your kidneys in good shape:

Exercise

Exercise increases the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your kidneys and helps keep them healthy and filtering all the toxins, which are a waste byproduct. If you’re already suffering with CKD, research funded by the National Institute of Health shows exercise will slow its progression. Walking, jogging, and swimming are good choices.

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Cut Down on NSAID Use Heavy or long-term use of ibuprofen, naproxen, and higher dose aspirin, can cause chronic kidney disease known as chronic interstitial nephritis. If you have decreased kidney function, NSAIDs and higher dose aspirin are not recommended. Speak with your doctor about alternatives.

Control Your Weight Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, have determined that there is a strong relationship between being obese and developing end-stage renal disease, or kidney failure. The long-range study found that the obese have up to a seven times greater risk of kidney failure than normal weight people.

Get a Physical According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, signs of kidney problems may not be apparent at the beginning stages. However during a thorough physical exam your physician will give you a urine test to diagnose possible kidney disease and check for symptoms such as swelling of your arms, legs and face, and high blood pressure.

Know Your Family’s Medical History Some kidney diseases result from hereditary factors, and can run in families. This is especially relevant if an immediate family member suffers with the disease.

Monitor Blood Pressure High blood pressure makes the heart work harder and, over time, can damage blood vessels throughout the body. If the blood vessels in the kidneys are damaged, they may stop removing wastes and extra fluid from the body. The extra fluid in the blood vessels may then raise blood pressure even more.

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