4 things to know to take care of your kidneys properly

Many people do not pay attention to their kidney health on a daily basis and only start to care when their kidneys give warning signals. That is when the kidneys show symptoms due to serious health problems such as kidney stones and kidney failure.

Kidney disease often progresses silently, without obvious symptoms until the late stages. Proper kidney care will help prevent and significantly reduce the risk of kidney disease, according to the health website Medical News Today (UK).

Drinking water regularly helps maintain effective kidney function - PHOTO: AI

To take care of healthy kidneys, people need to note the following:

Drink enough water but not too much

Drinking water is essential for the kidneys to function properly. Water dilutes urine and helps flush out toxins. However, drinking too much water is not good because it can dilute the sodium concentration in the blood, leading to hyponatremia, causing nausea, convulsions, and even death if severe.

Determining how much water is too much will depend on the individual and specific conditions. For normal people, in normal conditions, not hot weather, not exercising , continuously drinking 3-4 liters of water in just a few hours is enough to cause water overload.

Avoid overuse of painkillers

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen are commonly used to treat headaches, toothaches, muscle and joint pain, menstrual cramps, and fever due to infections. However, overuse can cause serious damage to the kidneys.

These drugs reduce blood flow to the kidneys and increase the risk of interstitial nephritis or acute kidney failure. Instead of taking drugs on your own, patients should consult a doctor and only take drugs when absolutely necessary, with the right dosage and duration.

Exercise regularly

Being overweight or obese, especially having too much belly fat, increases the risk of kidney disease. Research shows that losing just 5-10% of your body weight can significantly improve kidney function in overweight or obese people. Exercising 30 minutes a day with activities such as brisk walking, cycling or yoga is not only good for the kidneys but also increases resistance.

Regular kidney function screening

People at high risk of kidney disease, such as those over 60 years old, with a family history, diabetes or high blood pressure, need to have their kidney function screened at least once a year. Common tests include serum creatinine, eGFR, and urine tests to detect proteinuria. Early detection will help prevent kidney disease from progressing, according to Medical News Today.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/4-dieu-can-biet-de-cham-soc-than-cho-dung-185250706005032058.htm