The human kidneys are fist-sized organs located at the bottom of the rib cage, on both sides of the spine. They perform several functions, most importantly, they filter waste products, excess water, and other impurities from the blood.
There are several other important functions of the kidney and a damage or failure of the kidney can thus affect your overall health.
A person is more likely to develop a kidney disease if he or she has:
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- a family history of kidney failure
What can you do to keep your kidneys healthy?
By preventing or managing health conditions that are likely to cause kidney damage,
you can protect your kidneys. For instance if you practice healthy habits and have a regular track on your health, you can keep away from conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. And thereby, lower your chances of developing kidney diseases.
Consider following the steps described below
- Get a routine screening
During your next medical visit, you may consider knowing your kidney health, by opting to get them screened. Early kidney disease usually doesn’t exhibit any symptoms, so getting tested can help in knowing your kidney health. Additionally, your health care provider can also help you decide how often you should be tested.
Make sure to consult right away if you develop a urinary tract infection (UTI), which can gradually cause kidney damage if left untreated.
- Make healthy food choices
Include foods that are healthy for your entire body. Food like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products are all good for your kidney functioning and your body.
Having healthy meals, and cutting back on salt and added sugars is a great way to stay healthy.
- Include physical activity in your routine
Make sure to be active for 30 minutes or more everyday. Aim for a healthy weight and if you are overweight, work with your health care provider or dietitian to create a realistic weight-loss plan.
- Get ample sleep
Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night and if you have trouble sleeping, take steps to improve your sleep habit.
- Quit smoking and drinking alcohol
We all know that smoking tobacco or other products and consuming alcohol is not good for our health. So if you are in the habit of smoking or drinking, quitting them would be the right thing to do.
Bottom-line
Maintaining your kidney health is important to your overall health and general well-being. Only if your kidneys remain healthy, your body can filter and expel waste properly and produce hormones that are needed for body to function properly.
Follow the good practices and keep a regular track of your kidney health by doing routine kidney checkup and not overseeing the symptoms of a kidney disease.
