Chronic kidney disease affects approximately 16% of the population globally. In America, close to 37 million Americans are affected by the disease. Although genetic predisposition contributes to the incidence and progression of kidney disease, lifestyle factors play a significant role. That is why your trusted kidney specialist Tsegaw E Egziti M.D recommends lifestyle changes to lower the risk of the disease and its related health issues. Even if you have a chronic illness, lifestyle changes also come in handy in managing it.
Subsequently, below are some of the lifestyle changes you may have to adopt to prevent chronic kidney disease.
Eat a healthy diet
A healthy diet is rich in essential vitamins and minerals such as sodium, protein, fiber, potassium, and low-fat products. Your diet should be rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, minimize your intake of sodium/salt, phosphorus, junk food, and sugar.
For instance, high phosphate levels promote damage to your body and kidney. Therefore, limit your consumption of phosphorus-rich foods like processed meat and soft drinks.
Excess sugar in your body causes hormonal imbalance, which leads to overweight and diabetes. As a result, the normal working of the kidneys is affected.
Stay physically active
Regularly carry out physical exercises such as walking, running, or riding a bike for at least 30 minutes daily or every few days. Consult your healthcare provider or kidney specialist about the activities that can be more effective for your health situation.
Regular physical activity is a sure way to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. When you are obese or have excess weight, that may contribute to diabetes and high blood pressure. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure; thus, if you have it, your doctor should provide you with the proper medication to control your blood sugar level.
High blood pressure can damage your kidney’s blood vessels and hinder the organ’s ability to get rid of waste and unwanted fluids from the body.
Avoid sleep deprivation
More than 60 million Americans have sleep disorders.
Studies link insufficient sleep to cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure risk. That happens since your sleep-wake cycle regulates the functioning and workload of your kidneys. Therefore, if you suffer from sleep deprivation or a disruption of the natural sleep cycle, there is a high chance of experiencing a decline in the function of your kidneys.
Following the tips below, you can avoid sleep deprivation and sleep for the recommended 7-8 hours.
- Maintain a routine bedtime
- An hour to sleep, avoid intense activities and intense artificial sources of light like your computer screen.
- Avoid going to sleep on a full stomach
- Sleep in a dark or dimly lit room
Do not drink excess alcohol
Routine drinking too much alcohol can slowly damage your kidneys and lead to kidney disease. If you are a heavy consumer of alcohol and a smoker, you are about five times more at risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) than a person who does not drink excessively or smoke.
It is best to quit drinking and smoking to help protect you from chronic kidney disease.
Contact Houston Kidney Specialists Center today to request an appointment and benefit from comprehensive chronic kidney disease prevention and treatment options.
