The same behaviors that support overall health also support your kidneys, such as eating a healthful diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Your kidneys are the small but mighty organs that cleanse your body of waste and keep you alive. They weigh in at only about 10 to 12 ounces each, but each day they filter about 150 quarts of blood, with only about a quart or two of waste discharged as urine -- if they're functioning well.
But how do you know if they're functioning as they should, and what can you do to keep them healthy?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in seven American adults -- about 35.5 million people -- are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD). It's more common among African Americans. And most people don't know they have it because it's a silent disease until it reaches critical stages.
Due in part to growing risk factors -- including obesity and Type 2 diabetes -- the incidence of CKD is increasing. Over my career as a patient advocate, I've had many clients with end-stage kidney disease, which requires dialysis several times a week or, if they're lucky, a kidney transplant.
Fortunately, the same behaviors that support overall health also support your kidneys: eating a healthful diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains and low in salt and sugar; avoiding smoking and drinking to excess; and getting regular exercise. If you have Type 2 diabetes, keep your blood glucose in check and, if you're overweight, try to take off some pounds.
In addition to diabetes and obesity, high blood pressure, or hypertension, also increases the risk of CKD. It constricts and narrows blood vessels, eventually damaging them throughout the body, including in the kidneys. If your doctor prescribes blood pressure medication, take it religiously.
Stress is another risk factor, says the National Kidney Foundation, because it can spike your blood pressure. Heavy or long-term use of ibuprofen, naproxen or higher dose aspirin can cause a chronic kidney disease known as chronic interstitial nephritis. I've had patients go on dialysis due to chronic Ibuprofen use. Talk to your doctor about any medications that may cause worsening kidney function if labs turn up high.
Are your kidneys working OK?
Your regular blood work probably contains a measurement called eGFR. This stands for "estimated glomerular filtration rate" and shows approximately how efficiently the kidneys are filtering the blood. An eGFR below 60 milliliters per minute for three or more months indicates CKD, and one lower than 15 is a sign of kidney failure, which requires immediate medical attention.
But kidney function naturally declines with age. An eGFR below 60 in a 50-year-old would warrant investigation, but it may be normal for someone in their 70s or 80s. Research from the University of Calgary, published last year, found that many people over 65 with a low eGFR and no elevated protein, called albumen, in their urine did not have increased health risks.
If CKD is suspected, you will be referred to a kidney specialist, known as a nephrologist. There will likely be additional tests, including urinalysis, imaging to assess the kidneys' structure and size and perhaps a biopsy to potentially narrow down the cause of kidney problems.
Treatment for CKD
There's no cure for chronic kidney disease, so treatment involves reducing the risk factors that I discussed above.
• Swelling: People with CKD often retain fluids, which can lead to swelling in the legs and high blood pressure, putting additional stress on the kidneys. A diuretic will help your body balance its fluids.
• Anemia: Damaged kidneys produce less of a hormone that signals bone marrow to make red blood cells. Fewer red blood cells mean less oxygen is being delivered to organs and tissues. Treatment may include supplements of iron and erythropoietin, the hormone that's in short supply.
• High cholesterol: Kidney disease and high cholesterol go hand-in-hand because, when the kidneys aren't working well, it changes how the body handles blood lipids. Your doctor might recommend a statin to lower cholesterol to not only protect your kidneys, but also your heart.
• Weak bones: CKD throws off the balance of nutrients your bones need to stay strong, including calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus. Weak bones can lead to frailty in older adults, which in turn can lead to falls and fractures. Your doctor may prescribe calcium and vitamin D supplements.
A lower protein diet to minimize waste products in your blood is another possible recommendation.
The goal of all these treatments to stave off end-stage kidney disease, which is both costly and deadly. Recent research suggests that being screened for CKD at an earlier age, as young as 35, would improve life expectancy and the effectiveness of treatments.
If you haven't discussed kidney health with your doctor, it may be time to give your kidneys the same care they give you.
blogpay
