Kidneys that function properly
are vital to life; but sad to say, some common habits can significantly damage
this critical organ pair, leading to a life that is convoluted by dialysis,
kidney transplant, and worst of all, death. Find out what these harmful habits
are and improve your health today.
Consuming
Unhealthy Diet
As with many bad habits, an
unhealthy diet poses risks to kidneys in various ways. An unhealthy diet
frequently leads to diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, which has
a direct correlation to kidney failure. Incidentally, one-half of diabetic patients
studied also suffer from kidney malfunction.
Additionally, the lack of vital
nutrients that often accompanies an unhealthy diet prevents the kidneys from
functioning adequately. For instance, vitamin B6 and magnesium which are
critical to kidney health are seldom found in unhealthy foods. On the other
hand, a diet rich in green, leafy vegetables and low in sodium will help
prevent kidney problems.
Too
Much Use of Over – The – Counter Pain Killers
While an occasional headache
pill will not likely result in kidney failure, treating chronic pain with OTC
pain medication, including NSAIDs or ibuprofen, can lead to kidney disease
called chronic interstitial nephritis.
The damage done by long-term or
heavy use of these drugs is greatly compounded when combined with alcohol
consumption. These medications are not intended for use on a daily basis.
Chronic pain patients should consult their physicians regarding the safety of
the treatment and have regular examinations to test their kidney function.
Smoking
Among the many life-threatening
illnesses caused by smoking is kidney disease. Smoking causes atherosclerosis,
which is narrowing and hardening of blood vessels, including those connected to
the function of kidneys. This damage to the vessels limits the amount of blood
flowing to the kidneys and creates real damage over time.
Smoking also increases blood
pressure. High blood pressure has a documented, direct correlation to kidney
malfunction. The effects on kidneys from smoking are not only indirect. One
study has demonstrated that in otherwise healthy individuals, smokers had
higher levels of albumin in their urine, and creatine was released slower from
their bodies. These occurrences are common with early kidney disease. Smoking
cessation can be difficult; however, the health benefits are undeniable.
Too
Much Use of Vitamins
Health-conscious people often
take various vitamins and supplements. However, certain types of vitamins and
herbs can, in fact, cause kidney failure.
Taking vitamins that exceed the
recommended dosages overloads the kidneys with toxins. In particular, too much
Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Calcium can all lead to kidney disease. Vitamin A and
Vitamin D both lead to higher levels of calcium. Incidentally, too high levels
of calcium lead to deposits in the calcium in the kidneys, kidney stones, and
even kidney failure.
Consumers of vitamins should
take care to consult their physicians before use and never take more than the
recommended dosage.
Lack
of Regular Exercise
Leading a sedentary lifestyle
is common in today’s culture. Most occupations do not require physicality, nor
do many forms of entertainment.
However, lack of exercise leads
to high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which have connections to kidney
malfunction. Over time, both of these diseases lessen blood flow to the kidneys
and can cause drastic kidney disease. An active lifestyle prevents many
life-threatening health issues, including those that lead to kidney disease.
The benefits from exercise
indicate the need for scheduled exercise and a real effort to become
purposefully more active.
Misuse
of Medication
Often, patients take
medications contrary to the prescription’s instructions. This unfortunate trend
is often due to confusion, financial straits, or simple abuse. However, this
trend of misusing prescription medications is a common problem that does lead
to kidney disease.
The kidneys function as a toxin
filter; they clean toxins from the body. As with any filter, kidneys do have a
saturation limit in terms of the amount of filtration possible.
While over-using prescription
medication is a common problem leading to kidney disease, failing to take prescribed
medication can also lead to kidney disease. For instance, medication used to
treat high blood pressure also prevents kidney problems. Failing to treat high
blood pressure can cause kidney disease. All prescription medication should be
taken according to the prescribing physician’s instructions.
Not
Drinking Enough Water
Hydration is critical to kidney
health. The suggested amount of fluid intake is typically eight glasses of
water per day. This amount does vary depending on an individual’s gender, size,
and activity.
While fluids do not have to be
water, other drinks often contain sugar or caffeine which are not ideal.
Maintaining this amount of fluid intake can be difficult without effort. Often,
dehydration occurs when people simply become busy and lose awareness of how much
fluid has been consumed.
Ideally, an adequate amount of
water should be consumed daily to flush toxins, urea, and sodium, maintaining
kidney health.
Drinking
Too Sugary Soda
The two primary ingredients in
soda, sugar and caffeine, are also the primary reasons soda can cause kidney
disease.
First, the sugar in sodas often
leads to the development of Type II diabetes and obesity. These illnesses
frequently occur alongside kidney disease and cause kidney malfunction over
time.
Secondly, caffeine can cause
dehydration, a condition that can lead to kidney disease when sustained over
time. Avoiding or limiting soda consumption and choosing water whenever
possible as the ideal alternative can prevent kidney disease as well as many
other life-threatening conditions.
Not
Having Enough Sleep
Researchers propose that kidney
tissue needs sleep to rejuvenate, and frequent disruptions of sleep cause
scarring of kidney tissue. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule prevents this
scarring and allows the kidneys time to rest. Avoiding frequent sleep
disruptions and ensuring an adequate amount of sleep ensures many health
benefits, one being kidney health.
Delayed
Urination
Failing to urinate when the
urge first occurs can lead to kidney disease over time. This habit may seem
minor, but the effects over time are real.
Holding urine in the bladder
causes pressure to build within the kidneys. This pressure can result in real
damage over a period of time, including incontinence and kidney disease.
Ideally, the bladder should be
voided as soon as possible once the urge occurs. Regular, even scheduled,
visits to the restroom can prevent future kidney damage.
Thank you for taking time to read this article. I hope it was useful to you. Always visit this blog for more health tips.