10 Common Habits that Damage Your Kidneys

The kidneys take care of the urination process in our bodies by filtering body waste and excess of water. So, one might say they are pretty important. But, despite being such an important component of our body, many of us do not care properly for them and millions of people die each year from kidney disease.
Many of us have habits that can harm our kidneys. Here is a list of some habits to avoid for healthy kidneys:

Drinking inadequate water
The biggest contributor to kidney damage is not drinking enough water. The main job of our kidneys is to drain metabolic waste from the body and regulate erythrocyte balances. So, when we’re not properly hydrated, the renal blood flow decreases, ultimately resulting in accumulation of toxins in the blood.

Long-term full bladder
A habit many of us have is delaying the call of nature. Many complications in the urinary tract may arise, when leaving the bladder full of urine for an extended time. Hypertrophy of detrusor muscle may lead to formation of diverticula. Hydronephrosis, an increase of urine pressure in kidneys is another example which is caused by chronic back pressure on kidneys, ultimately resulting in renal failure and even the need for dialysis.

Consuming too much sodium
Another function of our kidneys is metabolizing the sodium we consume. The salt we eat is the prime source of sodium and the majority of our sodium intake needs to be excreted. So, eating excessive amounts of salt keep the kidneys busy (excreting sodium), which may cause long term stress on our kidneys.
Consumption of too much caffeine
When we’re thirsty, we often choose beverages other than water such as soft drinks and sodas. Many of these beverages contain caffeine. Caffeine can elevate blood pressure, and high blood pressure puts strain on the kidneys which can damage them.

Pain-killer abuse
Taking pain-killers for low-grade pain is a bad habit many people have. This is a dangerous habit, because most pain-killers have severe side effects and can damage different organs, such as kidneys. According to several researches, taking pain pills in the long term reduces blood flow and deteriorates kidneys’ function.

Too much protein
Over-consuming red meat and other protein-rich foods can deteriorate the condition of damaged kidneys. A protein-rich diet is essentially healthy unless you suffer from kidney damage and your doctor recommends a protein-restricted diet. Too much protein increases the metabolic load on our kidneys.

Too much alcohol consumption
Excessive alcoholic intake is a kidney-damaging habit. This is because, alcohol contains toxins which put stress on our kidneys and can damage them.

Smoking
According to the CDC, smoking is bad for almost every organ of the body, including the kidneys. According to several studies, there is a connection between smoking and kidney disease.

Ignoring colds and flu
Ignoring the common cold and flu is a bad habit that can cause kidney damage. Several studies have shown that people who have kidney disease also have a history of avoiding resting while sick.

Sleeplessness
While sleeping, a process of renewal of organ tissues occurs. So, when you don’t get enough sleep, it interrupts the renewal process, resulting in damage to the kidneys and other organs.

Source: Organic Health

Written, produced and directed by John Attah.
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