You can protect your kidneys by preventing or managing health conditions that cause kidney damage, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. During your next medical visit, you may want to ask your health care provider about your kidney health. Early kidney disease may not have any symptoms, so getting tested may be the only way to know your kidneys are healthy. Your health care provider will help decide how often you should be tested.
Make healthy food choices:
Choose foods that are healthy for your heart and your entire body: fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Eat healthy meals, and cut back on salt and added sugars. Aim for less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day. Try to have less than 10 percent of your daily calories come from added sugars.
Research has shown that the DASH eating plan may help you lower your blood pressure. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease you may be wise to work with a Dietitian.
Take steps to prevent or slow the progression of kidney disease:
- Manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease
- Make physical activity part of your routine
- Aim for a healthy weight
- Get enough sleep
- Stop smoking
- Limit Alcohol Intake
- Explore stress-reducing activities
- Take all your medicines as prescribed
Treat Urinary tract infections Immediately:
See a provider right away if you develop a urinary tract infection (UTI), which can cause kidney damage if left untreated.
Urinary tract infections don’t always cause signs and symptoms, but when they do they may include:
- A strong, persistent urge to urinate
- A burning sensation when urinating
- Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
- Urine that appears cloudy
- Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored — a sign of blood in the urine
- Strong-smelling urine
- Pelvic pain, in women — especially in the center of the pelvis and around the area of the pubic bone
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
