Kidneys are an important part of our excretory system. Healthy kidneys filter half a cup of blood every minute by removing toxic waste and extra water from our bodies. However, there are a lot of harmful behaviors that put a strain on the kidneys and contribute to chronic kidney disease, ranging from eating too much protein to eating processed meals daily. According to the CDC, 9 in 10 adults with chronic kidney diseases are unaware. Therefore, it’s important to know about and avoid such habits to have proper kidney function.
It’s easy to get trapped by common unhealthy habits effortlessly. When it comes to our health, we often overlook our daily habits that seem liberal, but that may result in life-threatening kidney diseases if not checked promptly.
See Also: What Should You Know About Kidney Function?
Here are ten common habits that may harm your kidney:
Small filtering blood vessels can be severely destroyed by long-term exposure to painkillers. Although they are effective in relieving pain, a study has proven that long-term painkiller use increases the risk of kidney cancer by 50%.
Street drugs, including heroin and cocaine, have a significant impact on the human body. Abuse of these drugs is directly linked to high blood pressure, stroke, or cardiovascular disease, which can amplify the risk of kidney damage.
Processed food can harm the overall body as they contain high levels of sodium and phosphorus. People who rely mostly on junk food and processed food may cause long-term damage to their kidneys and trigger diabetes. In the case of diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin, and the sugar from processed food in the blood is one of the major causes of kidney disease.
Checking your blood pressure regularly is the most important part of detecting high blood pressure early. If your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, you may have high blood pressure. There are multiple reasons which raise blood pressure, and all of them are linked to kidney damage.
Protein generates a high amount of acid in the blood, which can cause acidosis. It is a condition in which kidneys cannot eliminate enough acid, which increases the workload of the kidney and damages the effects of the organ.
Smoking has numerous side effects, including its direct effects on the heart and lungs. Smokers tend to disturb the health of kidneys as they are more likely to have protein in the urine, which is a sign of kidney damage.
Sitting idle for a long time is linked to several health disorders, and now kidney damage is also one of them. However, it is not yet clarified how it contributes to a kidney disorder directly, but it is proven that keeping your body active can improve the health status of kidneys.
Sugar is a silent killer as it may lead to many side effects for the body. Excess consumption may lead to diabetes and high blood pressure, directly impacting the kidneys. High sugar levels damage the kidneys’ blood vessels, resulting in their inefficiency to work properly.
If you are preventing yourself from peeing, the body and the kidneys recollect and absorb all the toxins that were meant to be flushed out. Although it might not seem dangerous, it can lead you to have kidney stones.
These drugs work like the male hormone testosterone to get extreme muscle. However, they cause severe harm to the parts of the kidneys that filter your blood. Swelling may occur in the body parts, making you lose protein in the blood.
See Also: What Are the Types and Causes of Kidney Disease?
The options available for kidney disease are as follows:
Dialysis is divided into hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In hemodialysis, a machine cleans your blood, and peritoneal dialysis cleans your blood by filtering it via the peritoneum, the lining of your abdomen. Dialysis must be performed in a sanitary environment.
A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure to place a healthy kidney into the body of a person suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Medical management is a treatment for symptoms of kidney disease that allows you to live comfortably until your body functions. If you don’t want your body to indulge in dialysis or a kidney transplant, you can opt for medical management.
If you are looking for the best nephrologist near you in Indiana, contact us today. At Kidney Physicians of Indiana, our board-certified physicians and staff are experts at providing advanced care to patients looking for kidney treatment. Schedule an appointment with one of our nephrology specialists in Indianapolis, IN, and we will help treat your kidney disease.
