Kidneys are among the most important organs in the human body. They detoxify the blood and help the body filter out the waste material through urine. Moreover, their main functions include eliminating excess water from the body, or retaining it when needed. They regulate the levels of phosphate,calcium, and other minerals in the body.
Kidneys help in the regulation of blood pressure as they produce important hormones needed for this function, as well as in the production of red blood cells which carry important nutrients and oxygen throughout the body.
As you can see, kidneys have numerous important functions in our body, so it’s essential that we keep them function properly. Usual symptoms of kidney issues include: changed quantity and color of the urine, vomiting, dizziness, breathing issues, anemia, fatigue or tiredness, bad breath, feeling cold most of the time, sudden pain in the body, and itchy skin.
Visit your doctor if you notice some of these symptoms to exclude the possibility of kidney disease. Kidney problems can be caused by different reasons, but people have adopted many habits that can as well cause severe damage to their kidneys.
Your kidneys can be damaged by the following 10 common habits:
1. Delaying the Urge to Urinate
One of the main causes of kidney damage is not emptying your bladder on time. This way, the urine will remain in the bladder for a longer period, allowing multiplying of the bacteria breeding in the urine. These dangerous bacteria can lead to kidney or urinary tract infection. Retaining the urine can cause urinary incontinence and renal failure as it increases the pressure on the kidneys.
If you are one of those who habitually postpone the urge to urinate, it’s time to change that before it’s too late.
2. Insufficient Intake of Water
Your kidneys can be severely damaged if you don’t drink enough water. If your body lacks water, your blood will become concentrated so there will be less blood flow to the kidneys. This impedes the ability of kidneys to flush out the toxins from your body, and the more toxins in the body, the more health problems.
The recommended daily amount of fluid consumed by a healthy adult is 8 to 12 glasses at a minimum. This way, the body will be well hydrated and the kidneys stay healthy. On the other hand, don’t consume too much liquid as this can harden the function of kidneys.
3. High Intake of Salt
Consuming too much salt on a regular basis can lead to serious kidney damage and other health issues as well. 95% of the sodium consumed through food is metabolized by kidneys. If you consume too much salt, your kidneys will have to work much harder in order to excrete the excess salt. This can result in reduced function of your kidneys, leading to retention of water in your body. Water retention can increase the blood pressure as well as the risk of kidney disease.
According to many studies, the intake of salt raises the quantity of urinary protein, which is another risk factor for developing kidney disease. Every amount higher than 5 grams a day is harmful for both kidneys and your general health. One teaspoon of salt is approximately six grams.
4. Regular Use of Analgesics
Many people take analgesics, or over-the-counter painkillers, to lower inflammation and fever, and to control pain. However, this habit can cause damage on kidneys, and on other organs as well. According to a research, over-the-counter analgesics can decrease the blood flow to the kidneys and worsen their function. Long-term or heavy use of analgesics causes acute kidney injury or interstitial nephritis which is a chronic kidney disease.
Those who have reduced kidney function should consult their doctor before taking any painkiller. Analgesics should be taken for the shortest time and at the lowest dose possible, even for those with normal kidney function.