Celebrated this year on March 9, World Kidney Day is an awareness campaign focused on the importance of kidneys.
Are you taking care of your kidneys? Always celebrated on the second Thursday in March, World Kidney Day is a global health awareness campaign focused on the importance of the kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and associated health problems around the world.
We spoke with Dr. Caroline Reigadanephrologist, specialist in Internal Medicine at the Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo and in Nephrology at the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, on the main treatments we should have with these two very important organs .
5 tips to keep your kidneys healthy
1. Nourish your kidneys well and protect yourself from extra weight
“The standard Mediterranean diet or the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet are more recommended for patients who already have or want to avoid heart and kidney problems”says the nephrologist.
Healthy eating, such as the DASH diet, reduces the formation of kidney stones, as well as reducing the possibility of diabetes and high blood pressure, the main villains for kidney health. The DASH diet is based on a high intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, legumes, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and a low intake of sugars and red or processed meats. In these diets, vegetable or animal proteins are recommended, as long as they are lean (preferably from fish).
Also beware of overweight. “Obesity, a chronic disease affecting 1/3 of the population in some countries, is directly linked to diabetes and high blood pressure. When the body enlarges due to accumulation of fat, the kidneys filter it at an accelerated rate – what we call hyperfiltration – which in the long term leads to chronic kidney disease, with an estimated risk of two to seven times greater than in individuals without obesity”emphasizes Dr. Carolina.
2. Exercise your body
According to the doctor, exercise has been associated with improved blood pressure and diabetes control, as well as improved physical functioning.
“Despite current recommendations, exercise rates in the general population remain low and sedentary lifestyle is a growing and worrying risk factor in the third millennium. Knowing that the cardiovascular benefits are directly reflected in kidney health, it can be stated that exercises are beneficial for the kidneys”explains Dr. Carolina Reigada.
“Exercise has a positive effect on a number of chronic kidney disease risks, such as chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. The largest effect of exercise in patients with chronic kidney disease is to improve their cardiovascular health and vascular function”.keep professional.
3. sleep well
“Research shows that getting a few hours of sleep a night leads to a greater propensity to develop kidney function loss. Women who sleep 5 hours or less a night, for example, have a 65% increase in the chance of experiencing rapid decline of kidney function function compared to those who sleep 7 or 8 hours a night”explains the nephrologist.
“Sleep deprivation and sleep disorders challenge the body’s various systems to maintain critical functional balance called homeostasis. As with the health of many other organs in the body, kidney health can fall victim to sleep problems”complete the doctor.
The nephrologist explains that the kidneys are two hard working organs in the body and can suffer the long-term consequences of poor sleep. “Inflammatory mediators and sympathetic harmonics contribute to the development of disorders involving the vessels of the heart and kidneys. Obstructive sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disturbances, hypersomnia (oversleeping) and insomnia are been linked to a number of metabolic disorders. Evidence suggests that sleep disturbances influence the development of kidney disease, possibly as a result of the inflammatory environment and sympathetic activation that occurs in the renal vascular bed, which damages structures such as the glomerular basement membrane and the renal tubular apparatus, important anatomical parts for blood filtration”explains the doctor.
4. Try to relax
Stress is also highly damaging to the kidneys. “In a stressful situation, the brain stimulates the nerves in the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol, increasing blood pressure and blood sugar levels. This chemical reaction, which is a response by the brain to protect the body in a stressful situation, apparent danger, when excess, in a condition of chronic stress, causes the kidneys to excrete phosphate at non-standard levels, which can lead to muscle weakness, changes in bone composition and even kidney function”says the doctor.
5. Manage your blood pressure
Many people don’t realize it, but high blood pressure isn’t just a heart problem. The kidney, responsible for filtering the blood, is an organ that can suffer the consequences of hypertension.
“One of the functions of the kidneys is to regulate blood pressure by increasing or decreasing blood volume. When the pressure drops and blood flow decreases, the kidneys secrete substances that work to raise the pressure back to normal,” explains Dr. Caroline Reigada.
“In the long term, uncontrolled hypertension can lead to an overload in the functioning of this organ, which can culminate in chronic renal dysfunction or renal failure. Therefore, it is essential to adopt means to control the increase in pressure”. continues the doctor.
Dr. Caroline points out that kidney failure due to high blood pressure is a cumulative process that can take years to develop. “But you can limit your risk by managing your blood pressure. It is important to clarify that this care is a lifelong commitment. The patient should be on a well-balanced low-salt diet, limit alcohol, have an adequate intake of water. , exercise regularly , manage stress, maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking, take medications correctly, and work with your doctor”concludes the nephrologist.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
