Kidney disease has been on the rise with the majority of diagnosed patients being below age 40.
Below are the bad habits that endangers our kidneys. Note them and share to your families and loved ones.
Aside our bad lifestyle, conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of kidney failure and need critical attention.
Note these bad lifestyles that injure and damage our kidneys
1. DEHYDRATION
If you have a habit of not drinking water regularly and getting dehydrated, increases the chances of kidney diseases.
Kidneys need an adequate water supply to function well.
Dehydration often leads to a condition called Prerenal Azotemia which can lead to a Chronic Kidney Disease.
It is advised that the average individual should take from 2-3 litres of water daily ( that’s anywhere from 4-5 bottles of water intake per day).
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2. TOO MUCH SALT INTAKE
Salt is a risk factor for high blood pressure which is the second most common cause of kidney failure.
If you have an excessive amount of salt intake, can cause you to retain water, retain the salt and can lead to elevated blood pressurewhich can damage your kidneys.
The average person should take around 2 grams of sodium (salt) or less to reduce the risk of kidney failure.
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3. PAIN MEDICATIONS
Pain meds, specifically, Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
Don’t get me wrong, NSAIDs are certainly great anti-inflammatory drugs and if you have no kidney disease and stay well hydrated, then NSAIDs might be alright for you.
People with chronic pains like chronic lower back pains, chronic headaches and migraine, and severe arthritis are at risk of excess intake of these drugs.
This excess intake leads to a condition called NSAIDs Nephropathy. These drugs should be taken in the right doses.
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4. EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL USAGE
Excessive alcohol intake can lead to hypertension which is known to be one of the leading causes of kidney failure.
What also happens is that excessive intake of alcohol makes you pass out urine a lot that results in dehydration.
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5. SMOKING CIGARETTES
Frequent use of cigarettes can lead to poor blood circulation and lead to inadequate blood supply to the kidneys which results in kidney failure.
Smoking is also a risk factor for renal carcinoma ( kidney cancer).
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6. HOLDING BACK URINE FOR LONG
Most commonly, holding urine for long causes the urine to back up and cause swelling of the kidneys and often infection.
This can damage the kidneys and the infection can spread to the bloodstream and become very serious.
This can also cause incontinence and Urinary Tract Infection due to the buildup of bacteria in the urinary system.
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7. TOO MUCH CONSUMPTION OF ENERGY DRINK
Energy drinks can potentially harm the kidneys due to their high caffeine and sugar content.
Excessive consumption of caffeine can lead to dehydration, which in turn can strain the kidneys.
Additionally, some energy drinks contain ingredients like taurine and guarana, which can also stress the kidneys in high amounts.
Finally, the high sugar content in some energy drinks can contribute to conditions like diabetes and obesity, which are risk factors for kidney disease as already mentioned.
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Stay safe and protect your kidneys.