Kidneys are among the most important organs in our body. Besides detoxifying the blood, they also help the body to filter out the wastes through urine. They also eliminate excess water from the body, or retain it when needed. Kidneys also regulate the levels of minerals such as phosphate and calcium in the body.
Furthermore, kidneys produce hormones that are essential for regulating blood pressure, in addition to producing red blood cells that facilitate supply of oxygen and nutrients across the body.
Given the important functions of kidneys in our body, it is imperative that we uphold their health to keep them functioning efficiently. Some of the common symptoms of Kidney complications include:
Dizziness
Vomiting
Change in quantity and color of urine
Breathing complications
Fatigue
Bad breath
You should consult your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms to be sure that it’s not kidney disease. There are several lifestyle habits that can lead to development of kidney complications. In that light, here are 10 common habits that can result in kidney damage:
1. DELAYING THE URGE TO URINATE
When you don’t empty your bladder in time, you’re actually allowing multiplication of the bacteria breeding in the urine. Consequently, the dangerous bacteria would cause kidney or urinary tract infection. Likewise, retaining the urine raises the pressure on kidneys, which can lead to renal failure or urinary incontinence.
2. INSUFFICIENT INTAKE OF WATER
If you don’t drink sufficient water, and your body lacks water, the blood will become concentrated, leading to reduced blood flow to the kidneys. consequently, the ability of the kidneys to expel toxins out of the body will be limited, causing more health complications. Therefore, it is imperative that you drink at least 10 glasses of water per day to ensure that your body remains hydrated, keeping your kidneys healthy.
3. HIGH INTAKE OF SALT
Given that 95% of the sodium ingested through food is metabolized by kidneys, excessive consumption of salt will burden the kidneys when it comes to excreting the excess salt. This can undermine kidney function, leading to retention of water in the body, which can in turn raise the blood pressure and increase the risk of kidney disease.
4. REGULAR USE OF ANALGESICS
Many of us like taking analgesics, or over-the-counter painkillers, to control pain as well as alleviate inflammation and fever. Nonetheless, this habit can cause kidney damage. One study revealed that over-the-counter analgesics can limit the blood flow to the kidneys, thereby worsening their function. Heavy or long-term use of analgesics leads to acute kidney injury or interstitial nephritis,which is a chronic kidney disease.
Therefore, if you’ve compromised kidney function, you should consult your doctor before using any painkiller.
5. HIGH PROTEIN DIET
Kidneys are also tasked with metabolizing and eliminating nitrogenous wastes from the body. These wastes are by-products of the protein digestion. Hence, excessive consumption of protein elevates the glomerular pressure and hyper filtration, thereby increasing the metabolic load of your kidneys, which in turn raises the risk of developing kidney issues.
Thus, you’re advised to limit your consumption of red meat, and if you’re already struggling with some kidney problem, you should stop consumption of red meat immediately as it can worsen the problem.
6. DRINKING TOO MUCH ALCOHOL
Being a toxin that causes too much stress on the liver and kidneys, excessive alcohol intake can lead to severe kidney damage. As such, you should always drink it in moderation. Drinking too much alcohol will result in uric acid being stored in the renal tubules, thereby causing tubular obstruction, which elevates the risk of developing kidney failure.
Alcohol also causes dehydration and impedes the normal functioning of the kidneys.
7. SMOKING CIGARETTES
Smoking is actually bad for virtually every organ in the body. According to several studies, smoking raises the heart rate and blood pressure, besides decreasing the blood flow and narrowing the blood vessels in kidneys. It can also worsen existing kidney complication, and can accelerate the loss of kidney functions. Therefore, it is imperative that you stop smoking before it is too late.
8. CONSUMING TOO MUCH CAFFEINE
Excessive consumption of caffeine increases blood pressure, thereby burdening the function of kidneys, which can cause kidney damage over time. You’re therefore advised to consume caffeine in moderate amounts; 1-2 cups of coffee per day is perfectly fine. You should also limit your intake of energy drinks, soft drinks, chocolate, and cocoa, as they also contain caffeine.
9. IGNORING COMMON INFECTIONS
Ignoring common infections such as coughs, colds, tonsillitis, flu, and pharyngitis, can cause serious kidney damage. Often, those with kidney complications have reported to have had no rest during their sickness, and these are usually weather sensitive individuals who often get ill.
Therefore, you need to treat your infections on time, lest the bacteria or viruses cause kidney damage.
10. LACK OF SLEEP
A 6-8 hour sleep is essential to uphold your overall health, as organ tissues renew while you’re sleeping. Therefore, lack of adequate sleep will interrupt this process, which will result in damage of many organs, including your kidneys.
Several studies have revealed that improper sleep can lead to increased clogging of the arteries and high blood pressure, which elevates the risk of kidney damage. You’re advised to try to keep a proper balance between work and rest, and to embrace healthy sleeping habits. That way, you’ll not only protect your kidneys, but your overall health as well.
Source: http://www.houseofhealth.us/
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