WHAT DO MY KIDNEYS DO? |
WHAT IS KIDNEY DISEASE? |
- Make urine to remove excess water, wastes, and toxins from your blood.
- Maintain your body’s balance of salts and acids. - If kidney function fails, your body is damaged by the toxic waste that aggregates in your blood. - Produce hormones that control blood pressure, red blood cell numbers, and vitamin D and calcium levels. |
There are two types of kidney disease:
1. Acute Kidney Disease: Your kidneys stop working over days or weeks. Problems with kidney blood supply, activity, or urine flow can cause this. If diagnosed and treated in time, you can recover completely. 2. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): the gradual, irreversible damage to the kidneys over several months or years. Initial symptoms do not appear until its later stages, making CKD a silent killer. |
WHAT CAN CAUSE CKD?Diabetes - prevents glucose breakdown, damaging the kidneys. The kidneys may stop working well 15-20 years after onset of diabetes.
High blood pressure - damages kidney blood vessels, preventing waste removal. Kidney Infection Genetics - having family members with diabetes, hypertension, or kidney disease, like polycystic kidney disease Inflammation due to problems with immune system Obstructions preventing proper urine flow - kidney stones, enlarged prostate, abnormal urological system Certain Medications - Motrin, Ibuprofen, Advil, certain herbs, contrast injections |
HOW DO I PREVENT CKD?1. See your doctor on a regular basis.
Your doctor can help you to monitor blood pressure and diabetes, maintain a balanced diet, and avoid medicines that can damage the kidneys. 2. Drink enough fluid. Drinking 2 liters of fluid a day can help prevent kidney stones from forming. 3. Exercise often. Exercise 5 times a week for approximately 30-60 minutes at a time. 4. Eat healthy. Avoid sugar that is high in fats, salts, and sugar TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT ALL OF THESE ISSUES CAN HELP YOU TO AVOID CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE. |