Taking Steps to Prevent Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is a condition in which your kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood properly. The damage happens slowly over a long period of time, and so the disease is called “chronic.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in seven American adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease, and the condition is more common in adults 65 years and older. 

What causes kidney disease?

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease states that the most common causes of chronic kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. If you are affected by either condition, talk to your doctor about how to manage your blood sugar and blood pressure to prevent developing kidney disease. 

What are the symptoms?

The disease usually has no signs or symptoms in the early stages. Over the age of 60, seeing your doctor for an annual physical is one of the best ways to identify the condition.

Signs of more advanced kidney disease may include vomiting, urinating more often than normal, swelling of the ankles, feeling tired or short of breath all the time, sleeping poorly, or not feeling like eating.  

Preventing kidney disease

Your best defense against diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease is a healthy lifestyle. The basic components of a healthy lifestyle include:   

• Eat healthy

Build a healthy diet around fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, protein (from tofu, beans, and quinoa, etc.), and whole grains. For information about how diet can help protect your kidneys, go here.

• Stay active

Just thirty minutes a day of physical activity can make a big difference to your overall health and well-being. It’s a good idea to match your activity to your needs and abilities, and always talk to your doctor before starting an activity program. 

• Reduce stress

Developing healthy ways to handle stress can improve your health. Physical activity, relaxation exercises, or meditation are examples of healthy ways to react to stress. 

• Reduce alcohol

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture dietary guidelines recommend that individuals 60 and older who choose to drink should limit alcohol intake to 2 drinks or less per day for men or 1 drink or less per day for women.

If you have a health problem or are taking certain medicines you may need to drink less, or not at all. Talk to your doctor about what is right for you. For more information on alcohol, go here.

• Don’t smoke

Many older adults who have smoked for years think stopping now won’t do any good. But that’s not true. Many health problems caused by smoking can be even more serious for older adults. As soon as you stop smoking your body begins to recover. Quitting at any age will improve your health.

• Have an annual physical

Seeing your doctor each year for an annual physical makes it easier for your doctor to spot problems early, when they are easier to treat. Your doctor can also recommend screening tests you may need to prevent future medical problems. 
 

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