Your body is like a machine that constantly works to keep you healthy and on your feet. 

However, just like any other machine, your body also needs repairs and maintenance for it to function smoothly. Often times, we fail to give enough attention to our body, which leads to diseases or in worst cases, organ failures. 

So, what can you do to ensure the health of your body? While each and every part of our body has different requirements, in this blog, we are concentrating on kidney health.

Understanding your kidneys

Kidneys are your body’s waste management system. They are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist, located just below the rib cage on each side of your spine. 

Healthy kidneys are hard-working organs; they can filter about half a cup of blood every minute, drawing out the waste and toxins from your blood. The wastes and water collected from the blood make the urine. 

The urine produced in the kidney flows to the bladder through two thin muscular tubes called the ureters and end in the bladder, which is a muscular sac that stores your urine.

So why is it important to take care of your kidneys?

As mentioned, kidneys filter out the waste produced in your body every minute of your life. When your kidneys fail to do this task, it increases the toxin levels in your blood, leading to a series of immediate issues like swellings and weakness. 

If left untreated, kidney failure can lead to other organ failure and even death.

Caring for your kidneys

There are many ways to keep your kidneys healthy. With a few lifestyle changes and a little care, you can ensure the healthy functioning of the kidneys.  Our urology specialist in Dubai recommends the following tips to maintain healthy kidneys.

 

• Ensure your fitness

 

Regular exercises are an essential part of your general health. By maintaining a healthy and fit body, you will bring down the possibility of health issues like high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for kidney failure. Even if you do not hit the gym regularly, it is enough if you can spend some time on normal cardio routines like walking, cycling and swimming every day.

 

• Count your blood sugar levels

 

High blood glucose levels are a serious condition that can lead to kidney damage. When your blood sugar levels are high, your kidneys have to work overtime to filter the blood. Overexertion of kidneys can lead to kidney failure in the long run. 

If you have diabetes or even insulin resistance, it is necessary to count your blood sugar levels regularly and keep it under control.

 

• Keep your blood pressure under check

 

As mentioned before, high blood pressure is a risk factor that contributes to kidney failure. If high blood pressure occurs along with other issues like high cholesterol, diabetes and heart diseases, the combined impact can be quite devastating for your body.

Our urology specialist suggests maintaining a healthy blood pressure reading of 120/80 with the help of a healthy lifestyle, and if required, with the help of medications.

 

• A healthy diet and weight management

 

Studies show that obese people are at higher risk for a number of health conditions that may lead to kidney damage. These people must maintain a low sodium diet, reduce the use of processed meats and exercise regularly to minimize the risk of kidney failure.

 

• Hydrate yourself

 

Drinking plenty of water is very essential for maintaining kidney health. According to our urology specialist, an adult requires a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day. Regular and consistent intake of water will help dilute and clear sodium and toxins in the blood, reduce the exertion of kidneys and ensure their health. 

 

• Stay away from smoking

 

Smoking is highly damaging to your body in many ways. Regular smokers will suffer from slower blood flow, which adversely affects your body and kidneys. The tobacco in cigarettes are also known carcinogens and increases your risk for kidney cancer; which is why it is best to avoid or quit both active and passive smoking.

 

• Reduce the use of over the counter medicines

 

Over the counter medicines that we take every other day like painkillers and antihistamines can damage your kidney in the long run. The components in these medicines take longer to be filtered out along with other toxins, leading to overexertion and eventual failure of your kidneys.

If you are on painkillers that could pose a risk to your kidneys’ health, talk to our urology specialist to decide on kidney-safe medicines to ease your pain.

 

• Regular check-up for your kidney health

 

If you are an individual who is at high risk of kidney damage due to any chronic health condition or has a family history, it is highly recommended that you should go for regular kidney function tests and screening.

Final Thoughts

To maintain healthy kidneys, it is important to follow a healthy lifestyle right from a young age. If you have any concerns regarding your kidney’s health, or suffer from related symptoms, consult with our urology specialist today.