Be Kind to your Kidneys

Be Kind to your Kidneys

Courtesy MercyCare Community Physicians, Linn County LIVING WELL Magazine

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), the permanent loss of some kidney function, currently affects an estimated 26 million people in the U.S., with millions of others at a heightened risk. Your kidneys, in addition to removing waste and fluid from your body, regulate many chemicals and hormones, as well as keep toxins from building up. People diagnosed with CKD not only deal with the effects of the disease, but are also at an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, infections and, if left untreated, kidney failure.

The two leading causes of CKD, diabetes and high blood pressure, are highly preventable. Of those who have the disease, it is estimated that at least 80% of cases are preventable. By reducing your risk factors of either of these diseases, or keeping them in control if you do have them, your risk for developing CKD dramatically decreases.

As with many ailments, leading a healthy lifestyle, including a well-balanced diet, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, is a key factor in reducing your risk of CKD. “Sometimes a change as small as losing 10 to 15 pounds can make a world of difference,” says Fadi Yacoub, M.D., a nephrologist with Internists Associates of Iowa. “Not only will it reduce your risk of CKD, it will reduce your risk of diabetes and high blood pressure which are directly related to developing CKD.”

If you currently suffer from diabetes or high blood pressure, keeping both of these diseases in-check will help lower your risk of CKD as well as other complications. “Get your blood sugar and blood pressure checked often,” says Yacoub. “If you have high blood pressure, avoid foods with high amounts of sodium and limit salt usage in cooking and when eating out.”

Other healthy lifestyle choices such as abstaining from tobacco use, drinking plenty of water and scheduling yearly physicals with your family physician will help reduce your chance of developing CKD risk factors. If you think you are at risk for CKD, contact Internists Associates of Iowa at 319-861-7600.

For more information on Dr. Yacoub or another MercyCare doctor, visit our website at www.mercycare.org/clinics