Chronic kidney disease, or kidney failure, occurs when kidney function gradually declines. The kidneys filter waste and excess fluids from the blood, which are then removed from the body via urine. Advanced kidney disease can be dangerous, as, without intervention, it can cause excess fluids of waste, fluids and electrolytes to build up in the body.
To better understand how to manage kidney disease, it may help to know what causes it. Kidney disease has several causes, some of which you can control and others which you cannot. A few of the top causes of kidney disease are as follows:
In addition to these direct causes, there are also risk factors for kidney disease. Some well-known risk factors are as follows:
With knowledge of these risk factors, you can identify areas of your life you need to change and plan appropriate lifestyle changes.
Though lifestyle changes cannot undo chronic kidney disease, it can help you manage it, keep it from getting worse and prevent complications. Some lifestyle changes are more effective than others in the management of kidney disease.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, can damage blood vessels in the kidneys and, as a result, hinder the organ’s ability to remove excess fluid and waste from the body. Not only can this contribute to the progression of kidney failure but also, it can raise blood pressure even more, creating a devastating cycle.
Though you will likely take medication to lower your blood pressure, there are plenty of lifestyle changes you can make to maximize the effects of those drugs. For starters, you may need to change your diet so that it consists more of whole foods — such as fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, lean dairies and healthy oils — and less of processed, sugary or fatty foods. You may also want to quit smoking, which damages the blood vessels, and limit your alcohol intake.
Additionally, if you do not already, you should exercise more. At least 150 minutes of moderate-to-intensive exercise or 300 minutes of mild/moderate exercise each week can help your blood pump more blood with less effort. As a result, the force on the walls of the arteries decreases.
Finally, adopt healthy stress-relief hobbies. Those may include meditation, drawing, bicycling, reading or painting. Also look into integrative therapies, such as massage, acupuncture and mediation.
Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure. In fact, per the estimates, as many as 30% of adults with type 1 diabetes and between 10% to 40% of adults with type 2 diabetes will die from kidney failure. Though diabetes directly affects the kidneys, you can prevent kidney failure by taking control of your diabetes from the day a doctor diagnoses you.
Though managing diabetes is a lifelong endeavour, some steps you can take to keep your blood sugar levels in check and maintain optimal health are as follows:
Also, educate yourself on everything you can and should know about diabetes. Finally, learn the warning signs of complications. Among those include scabs, blisters or sores on the feet, which could lead to infection and eventual amputation.
Building and maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is one of the best things you can do if your doctor diagnoses you with kidney disease. Not only should your diet include plenty of fruits and vegetables, healthy dairy products or dairy alternatives, wholegrains and lean proteins but also, it should account for kidney-specific complications — namely, fluid and waste retention. Top ways to avoid these complications are as follows:
A large part of managing kidney disease involves maintaining a healthy weight. A healthy weight is critical to maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, both of which contribute to or exacerbate kidney disease. What is a healthy weight varies from person to person. However, the best measure of a healthy weight is body mass index, or BMI. Though your doctor will measure your BMI during visits, you can measure it yourself using an online BMI calculator.
In addition to changing your diet for the better, one of the best ways to reduce and maintain a healthy body mass index is to exercise regularly. Ideally, you will exercise the daily amount as recommended by the World Health Organization. For 18- to 64-year-olds, these recommendations are as follows:
Moderate to intense physical activity includes activities such as yoga, bicycling, fast walking, jogging or swimming. More intensive exercises may include running, bicycling at various speed intervals, hiking or cardio workouts.
Before you engage in activities to which you are not accustomed, talk to your doctor to make sure it is okay to do so. It may do you more harm than good to push your body beyond its capacity too soon.
Adults who are 65 or older should engage in the same amount of exercise as younger adults. However, they should incorporate a balance of strength-training and balance exercises to enhance agility and prevent falls.
Smoking has so many adverse health effects, one of which is that it hinders blood flow. When you live with a disease as serious as kidney disease, it is critical to your health that you quit as soon as possible. This is because smoking slows the blood flow to important organs, kidneys included, and can worsen kidney disease.
Though you can drink alcohol with kidney disease, the National Health Service recommends that you consume no more than 14 alcohol units per week. For clarity’s sake, 14 units is approximately six pints of average strength beer per week or 10 small glasses of low-strength wine per week.
Though not necessarily a lifestyle change, staying up-to-date on your vaccines is more important than ever if you live with kidney disease. As your kidneys struggle to perform their basic functions, the rest of your body undergoes considerable strain. As a result, your immune system may not be as robust as it would be if you had two, optimally functioning kidneys, putting you at an increased risk of infection and other illnesses. Though you should consult with your doctor regarding which vaccines to get, the NHS encourages you get, at the very least, the pneumococcal vaccination and annual flu shot.
Living with kidney disease is often an uphill struggle for many individuals. However, with the right lifestyle changes and your ongoing effort, you can maintain good health and live a high-quality life. You can also prevent vaccinations and keep your strength up should you end up needing or qualifying for more intensive treatment, such as a kidney transplant.