How to keep your kidneys healthy!

Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs situated in the body that helps in voiding the urine & filters the blood. It is essential to take care of these critically important organs.
You can keep your kidneys healthy & functioning properly in a number of ways, like:

Keep an eye on your blood pressure

The normal blood pressure level is 120/80. 140/90 and above are considered high blood pressure which can put stress on the kidney’s.

Keep an eye on your blood sugar levels

More than half of the patients suffering from diabetes may develop kidney damage. So it is important to undergo regular test to check the kidney functions.

If detected early, kidney damage from diabetes can be prevented.

Exercise regularly

Regular exercise can turn away weight gain and high blood pressure. But keep in mind that overexerting yourself when you’re not fit and healthy can put a strain on your kidneys, especially if you exercise so much that you cause excessive breakdown of muscle tissue.

Eat healthy & keep a check on your weight

Salt consumption should be reduced. Avoid frozen or canned food. Try to prepare the food yourself with fresh ingredients.

Drink adequate water

Drink at least four to six glasses of water per day. Consumption of fluids helps the kidneys to clear sodium, urea and toxins from the body which lowers the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
But don’t overdo this and do not drink too much water, over-hydration is not an effective practice in enhancing kidney function.

Stop smoking

Smoking reduces the blood flow to the kidneys & it impairs the ability of kidneys to function properly. Smoking is also a risk factor of kidney cancer.

Stop intake of over-the-counter pills on a regular basis

Common NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can cause kidney damage if taken too regularly over a prolonged period.

Get your kidneys’ functions checked if you:

Have diabetes.
Have hypertension.
Are obese.
Have family history of kidney disease.

The kidneys simply become affected by other medical conditions so the most important way to keep your kidneys safe is to take care of your body to reduce strain on the kidneys.