The article titled “6-Step Guide to protecting kidney health” provides a comprehensive approach to safeguarding kidney health. It emphasizes the importance of early detection and prevention of kidney disease, which often goes undetected until it reaches an advanced stage. The article offers six steps to educate readers about kidney disease, assess their risk factors, recognize symptoms, get tested, adopt healthy habits, and learn more about kidney health. By following these steps, individuals can take proactive measures to protect their kidney health and potentially avoid the need for dialysis or a transplant. The article also highlights key facts about the role of healthy kidneys and the potential health problems associated with kidney disease. Readers are encouraged to take a risk quiz, be aware of symptoms, undergo important tests, and adopt healthy lifestyle choices to promote kidney health. The article serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking to prioritize and maintain their kidney health.
Step 1: Know These Facts
Healthy kidneys perform several vital functions in the body. These include regulating the body’s fluid levels, filtering wastes and toxins from the blood, releasing hormones to regulate blood pressure, activating vitamin D for maintaining healthy bones, directing the production of red blood cells, and keeping blood minerals in balance, such as sodium, phosphorus, and potassium.
On the other hand, kidney disease can cause various problems. These include heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, high blood pressure, weak bones, nerve damage, kidney failure (also known as end-stage kidney disease or ESRD), and anemia or low red blood cell count. Understanding these facts is crucial in recognizing the importance of protecting kidney health.
Step 2: Assess Your Risk
Assessing your risk for kidney disease is an essential step in protecting your kidney health. There are five main risk factors to consider: diabetes (either you or your family has a history of diabetes), high blood pressure (you or your family has a history of high blood pressure), heart disease (you or your family has a history of heart disease), family history of kidney failure, diabetes, or high blood pressure, and obesity.
Additionally, there are additional risk factors that can increase your chances of developing kidney disease. These factors include being 60 years of age or older, having a low birth weight, prolonged use of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen and naproxen, having autoimmune disorders like lupus, chronic urinary tract infections, and kidney stones. Recognizing these risk factors can help individuals take appropriate measures to protect their kidney health.
Step 3: Recognize Symptoms
In the early stages, kidney disease may not present noticeable symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, certain symptoms may arise. It is crucial to recognize these symptoms to seek medical intervention as early as possible. Some possible trouble signs of kidney disease include fatigue and weakness, difficult or painful urination, foamy or pink/dark urine (indicating the presence of blood), increased thirst, increased need to urinate (especially at night), puffy eyes, and swelling in the face, hands, abdomen, ankles, or feet. Paying attention to these symptoms can aid in early detection and prompt treatment.
Step 4: Get Tested
Getting tested for kidney disease is an essential step in protecting kidney health. If you or a loved one belong to a high-risk group, it is important to ask your primary-care physician about certain tests. Three simple, life-saving tests can provide crucial information about your kidney function.
The first test is the Blood Pressure (BP) test. High blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels (glomeruli) in the kidneys, making it the second-leading cause of kidney failure after diabetes. It is recommended to maintain a blood pressure reading below 140/90 for most people, below 130/80 for individuals with chronic kidney disease, and below 120/80 for the best outcome.
The second test is the Protein in Urine test. This test checks for the presence of albumin, a type of protein, in the urine. Traces of albumin may be an early sign of kidney disease, while regular amounts of albumin and other proteins in the urine indicate kidney damage. A good score is having less than 30 mg of albumin per gram of urinary creatinine (a normal waste product).
The third test is the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) test. This test measures how well the kidneys are filtering the blood. It involves measuring blood creatinine levels and performing a calculation to determine the GFR. A good score is over 90, while a score between 60-89 should be monitored closely. A GFR of less than 60 for three months indicates kidney disease. Getting tested regularly ensures early detection and appropriate management of kidney disease.
Step 5: Stay Healthy
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial for protecting kidney health. People with kidney disease should follow specific guidelines to manage their condition effectively. These guidelines include taking steps to lower high blood pressure, managing blood sugar levels (for individuals with diabetes), reducing salt intake, avoiding NSAIDs (a type of painkiller), moderating protein consumption, and getting an annual flu shot.
However, staying healthy is not limited to individuals with kidney disease. Everyone should take steps to protect their kidney health. These steps include exercising regularly, controlling weight, following a balanced diet, quitting smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, staying hydrated, monitoring cholesterol levels, and getting an annual physical check-up. By incorporating these habits into daily life, individuals can promote overall kidney health.
Step 6: Learn More
Continuing to learn about kidney health is vital for individuals to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions. The National Kidney Foundation offers resources to help individuals understand their kidney health better. They provide kidney health check events called “KEEP Healthy” to educate individuals about their risk of developing kidney disease. Furthermore, they offer a fact sheet in multiple languages for individuals seeking more information on how to keep their kidneys healthy. By accessing these resources, individuals can enhance their knowledge and actively participate in protecting their kidney health.
