March 14, 2024—Your kidneys have an unglamorous but very important job: to clean your blood, removing waste and extra fluid in the process. When your kidneys are healthy, they perform this job well. But kidney disease can change all that.
Chronic kidney disease can damage these organs to the point where they don't function well, causing waste products to build up in your bloodstream. Over time, this buildup can lead to major health problems, such as:
- Anemia (low red blood cell count).
- Heart disease.
- Irregular heartbeat.
- High blood pressure.
- Weakened immune system.
- Swelling in the legs.
A common condition
Kidney disease is more common than you might think. The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) says that more than 1 in 7 U.S. adults have the condition and 1 in 3 adults is at risk for developing it. What's more, most people with the disease don't know they have it. Risk factors include:
- Diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- A family history of kidney disease or kidney failure.
- Heart disease.
- Obesity.
- Being at or over age 60.
Prevention tips
Consider these tips for helping your kidneys stay healthy and reducing your disease risk.
Keep blood sugar within target range. If you have diabetes, it's essential to manage your blood sugar, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Control blood pressure. Check your blood pressure often, and talk with your doctor about ways to lower it.
Eat a healthy diet. Focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean proteins, beans, and nuts. Limit foods high in sugar, salt and fat. This type of eating plan, called the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH diet, can help lower blood pressure.
Stay active. Regular physical activity can help you keep a healthy body weight, which also benefits blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Avoid overuse of pain medications. Long-term overuse of over-the-counter pain medicines such as ibuprofen and naproxen can cause kidney disease, according to the NKF.
Don't smoke. If you smoke, plan to quit. If you don't smoke, don't start.
Get tested. Two simple tests can find early signs of kidney damage. A urine albumin-creatinine test measures the amount of a protein called albumin in your urine. Healthy kidneys keep albumin in your blood where it belongs. If kidneys are damaged, albumin leaks into your urine. A blood creatinine test measures how well your kidneys filter waste products from your blood.
Talk with your doctor about your risk for kidney disease, how to lower your risk and how often you should be tested for signs of the disease.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2023." https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/publications-resources/CKD-national-facts.html.
- National Kidney Foundation. "7 Golden Rules of Kidney Disease Prevention." https://www.kidney.org/prevention/7-golden-rules-of-prevention.
- National Kidney Foundation. "Kidney Disease: The Basics." https://www.kidney.org/news/newsroom/fsindex.