Keep Your Kidneys in Tip-Top Shape: Essential Tips for Optimal Health

Keeping your kidneys in shape is vital for reducing the risk of chronic disease. Check out some of our top tips for keeping your kidney healthy.

For the most part, when we try to keep healthy, we have an “overall” outlook on maintaining our physical wellbeing, rather than looking at different parts of the body and how they function.

By taking a closer look at our kidneys’ role, we can learn productive habits to keep them in top shape. Take a look below.

kidneys

What are the kidneys?

The kidneys are vital organs that filter toxins and other waste products from your blood, produce urine and hormones, and maintain levels of minerals in your bloodstream. The kidneys filter roughly 200 litres of blood every day, removing toxins, wastes and water from your body in the process. So, how can you keep them performing at their best?

Hydration is key

It is a great idea to drink two to three litres of water every day to stay in good health. Maintaining a healthy intake of fluids will assist the kidneys in clearing toxins from the body and is believed to reduce the risk of kidney disease significantly.

Monitor blood pressure

While high blood pressure is often associated with heart disease and stroke, it is also the most common cause of kidney damage. Therefore, it is crucial to have your blood pressure checked regularly by your doctor to help protect your kidneys. If you monitor blood pressure at home and notice any obscure changes, be sure to go to a doctor straight away.

Keep active

Keeping fit by exercising is a great way to reduce blood pressure and reduce the risk of kidney disease. However, it is believed that obesity is closely linked to kidney-related problems too, so if you are overweight, speak to a doctor about adjusting your exercise levels to improve your kidney health.

Eat a balanced diet

As you are probably well aware, your diet impacts your entire body. As such, eating healthy foods can help prevent high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and other conditions associated with kidney disease. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and reduce your salt intake. It is also a good idea to avoid heavily processed foods and too much takeaway.

Avoid smoking

Smoking has been connected to several urological issues and, in particular, can have a devastating impact on your kidney health. Smoking damages blood vessels, decreases blood flow in the kidneys and limits their function. Therefore, quitting smoking is always the healthiest option.

Limit your alcohol intake

Excess alcohol consumption can contribute to high blood pressure, which can be bad for your kidney health. As a general rule of thumb, limit your alcohol intake to a maximum of two standard drinks per day for men and one for women. Furthermore, avoid regular binge drinking.

Monitor your medications

There are several over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen which can cause kidney damage if taken too regularly over a long period. If you are required to take medication to manage chronic pain or other health conditions, be sure to ask your doctor about their impact on kidney health.

Book an appointment with Urology Specialist

Urologists can be the key to solving issues such as kidney damage. Therefore, it is essential to become well-informed and educated regarding available options and treatment methods.

It is essential to talk to a trusted professional when it comes to your health. If you have any questions about kidneys or would like to book an appointment, please feel free to contact or call Dr Arianayagam’s office on 1300 307 990, and his staff will be able to assist.

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