How to prevent and control kidney problems/diseases

What is kidney disease?

Your kidneys filter extra water and wastes out of your blood and make urine. Your kidneys also help control blood pressure so that your body can stay healthy. Kidney disease means that the kidneys are damaged and can not filter blood like they should. This damage can cause wastes to build up in the body. It can also cause other health problems that can harm your health.

Types of Kidney diseases

Acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury is sudden damage to the kidneys. In many cases it will be short term but in some people it may lead to long term Chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease.

More often kidney function worsens over a number of years. This is known as chronic kidney disease. Sometimes it can progress to end stage Kidney disease, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to keep you alive.

What are the causes of Kidney Disease.

Causes of Acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney failure can occur when;

• You have a condition that slows blood flow to your kidneys.
• You experience direct damage to your kidneys.
• Your kidneys urine drainage tubes(ureters) become blocked and wastes can not leave your body through the urine.

Causes of Chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney Disease can be caused by;

• Medical condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or a heart disease that cause damage to the small blood vessels within the kidneys.
• Glomerulonephritis (inflammation and damage of the filtering components bof the kidney) that is inherited or caused by other medical problems, eg lupus, diabetes, amyloidosis.
• Reflux nephropathy, a condition where urine flows from the bladder back to the kidneys, causing damage to the kidneys.
• Blockage of the urinary tract as a result of birth defects, prostate problems, kidney stones, or tumours.
• Medications that can cause permanent damage to the kidneys eg acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, naproxen, Diclofenac, cisplatin, lithium.

How to prevent kidney disease/Problems.

Manage Diabetes High blood pressure, and Heart diseases.

In most cases , kidney disease is a secondary illness that results from a primary disease or condition such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure. Around 50% of the people with diabetes develop kidney disease and hence it's important for people with diabetes to have regular kidney function test. Also people with blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg, need periodic medical advice and regular monitoring to reduce the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.

Reduce salt intake.

Salt increases the amount of sodium in the diet. It not only increase blood pressure but also triggers the formation of kidney stones. Hence it is a good idea to lower your intake of salt and restricting it to 5-6 grams of salt per day which accounts to one tea spoon, is beneficial.

Drink lots of water every day.

Hydrating out selves with enough fluids enables kidneys to evacuate sodium, urea and toxins from the body, thereby, lowering the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. While drinking 4-6 glasses of water per day is recommended for a healthy kidney, people who have already had kidney stone aemre advised to drink 2-3 litres of water to lessen the risk of forming new stones. It helps the body to maintain the blood volume and concentration. It also helps in digestion and controls the body temperature.

Exercise daily.

Obesity is closely linked to kidney related problems. Being Overweight doubles the chances of developing kidney problems. Exercising, eating healthy and controlling portion size can surely help you to lose extra weight and enhance kidney health. Besides you will always feel fresh and active.

Eat fresh food and avoid junk.

Nearly all the processes taking place inside your body are affected by what you choose to eat and how you eat. If you eat more unhealthy, junk, fast food, then your organs have to face the consequences, including the kidneys. Consider including right food in your diet. Especially foods that can strengthen your kidneys like fish, asparagus, cereals, garlic, and parsley. Fruits like watermelons, Oranges and Lemons are also good for kidney health.

Dont resist the urge to urinate.

Filtration of blood is a key function that your kidneys performs. When the process vof filtration is done, extra amount of wastes and water are stored in the urinary bladder that needs to be excreted. Although you bladder can only hold a lot of urine, the urge to urinate is felt when the bladder is filled with 120-150mls of urine. So , if you start ignoring the urge to go to the urinal, the urinary stretches more than its capacity. This affects the filtration process of the kidney and also puts you at a risk of kidney stones.

Avoid alcohol and smocking.

Excess intake of alcohol can disturb the electrolyte balance of the body and hormonal control that influences the kidney function. Smocking is not only directly related to kidney problems but it reduces kidney function significantly. It also has an adverse effect on heart health which can further worsen kidney problems.