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Kidney diseases are silent killers. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive loss of kidney function over a period of months or years. Most people have no symptoms until CKD becomes quite advanced. A person can lose up to 90% of kidney function before experiencing any clear symptoms.
You may be at risk if you:
• Have high blood pressure
• Have diabetes
• Have a family history of kidney disease
• Are overweight
• Smoke
• Are over 50 years of age
There are, however, several easy ways to reduce the risk of kidney disease, prevent complications, and improve the quality of life.
• Start the day with a glass of water; water helps one to stay hydrated and flush out waste, lowering the chance of developing kidney stones and infections.
• Minimize spice intake; excess sodium and potassium in foods usually come from seasonings and pickles.
• Maintain a healthy weight; check your BMI regularly and manage it. Walking is one of the best ways to be physically active.
• Limit salt Intake; too much salt (sodium) leads to high blood pressure, which affects kidney function.
• Control cholesterol – high cholesterol, especially in diabetics, Increases the risks of kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke.
• Limit intake of alcohol and tobacco (smoking or chewing), as they increase the risk of developing high blood pressure, kidney disease, and other health problems.
• Don’t resist the urge to urinate. Filtration of blood is a key function of the kidneys. After filtration, the waste and water are stored in the urinary bladder and needs to be excreted.
• Drink healthy beverages; drinking fruit juice or coconut water helps keep the kidneys healthy.
• Avoid too much coffee and tea as they contain caffeine which reduces the number of fluids in the body.
• Manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease: In most cases, kidney disease results from conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure.