What is Chronic Kidney Disease?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not talked about often, but the CDC estimates that about 15% of the US population has it. CKD is developed when the kidneys become damaged and are not able not clean the blood as well as healthy kidneys. This is a very series condition because it allows toxic waste and extra fluid to accumulate in the body and can increase your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and early death.
Luckily, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk for CKD. Even those with CDK can protect their kidneys and improve their condition with healthy lifestyle changes.
How to Prevent CKD
Listed below are tips for preventing chronic kidney disease as outlined by the CDC and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
- Get a Screening: During your next doctor’s appointment, ask your health care provider about your kidney health. The CDC states that as many as 9 in 10 adults with CKD do not know they have it and and 2 in 5 adults with severe CKD do not know they have it. Early kidney disease does not always have symptoms, so early detection is key.
- Limit Alcohol Intake: Drinking too much alcohol can put stress on your kidneys and increase your risk of CKD.
- Make Healthy Food Choices: Research has shown that the DASH eating plan is an excellent choice for not only preventing kidney disease, but also lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk for heart disease and helping to maintain a healthy weight.
- Stay Physically Active: Research shows that exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight, which is very important in preventing CKD. Aim to be active for 30 minutes or more each day!
- Get Quality Sleep: Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. If you have trouble sleeping, visit our past blog post for tips on improving the quality of your sleep!
- Stop Smoking: If you use tobacco products, quitting can greatly reduce your risk for CKD. Click here to learn more about tobacco cessation and it’s health benefits!
- Manage Any Current Conditions: Heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and other conditions put you more at risk for developing CKD. Many of the bullets above can help you manage these conditions and reduce your risk for kidney disease. Click here to view more blogs from our prevention series!
For more information about chronic kidney disease and how to prevent it, click here!
