How is exercise good for people at risk for or with kidney disease?

In recent years, many studies have shown that exercise not only benefits the heart but also significantly improves kidney function. This is especially important for people at risk of or with kidney disease.

Kidney function is extremely important to health because it helps filter waste, regulate blood pressure, balance electrolytes and maintain homeostasis for the body. When kidney function is reduced, the body cannot effectively eliminate toxins, thereby causing many serious complications such as high blood pressure, edema, anemia..., according to the health website Healthline (USA).

Exercise helps improve blood circulation to the kidneys

PHOTO: AI

Exercise improves kidney health through the following mechanisms:

Improve blood circulation to the kidneys

One of the biggest benefits of exercise is improved blood flow throughout the body, including blood flow to the kidneys. Better blood flow also means the kidneys receive more oxygen and nutrients, helping the nephrons work more efficiently. Nephrons are the basic structures of the kidneys, which perform the functions of filtering blood, producing urine, and regulating the body's water and electrolyte balance.

Research published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that the kidneys of people who exercise regularly at a moderate intensity have a better ability to filter blood than those who are sedentary. Some other research evidence also shows that regular exercise increases the glomerular filtration rate in people with mild chronic kidney disease. Exercises such as brisk walking, swimming or cycling are especially beneficial in improving blood circulation to the kidneys.

Lower blood pressure

High blood pressure is the most common cause of chronic kidney failure. Excessive pressure in the arteries damages the small blood vessels in the kidneys, causing them to lose their ability to filter blood over time.

Regular exercise has been shown to be one of the most effective non-drug methods for controlling blood pressure. The American Heart Association says that just 30 minutes of brisk walking a day can help people with high blood pressure lower their systolic blood pressure by 5-10 mmHg. For people with chronic kidney disease, controlling blood pressure through exercise can help slow the progression of the disease and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.

Blood sugar control

Diabetes is the second most common cause of chronic kidney disease, after high blood pressure. High blood sugar damages the microvessels in the glomeruli, reducing their ability to filter blood and causing the protein albumin to leak into the urine.

Exercise helps increase insulin sensitivity and improve the body's ability to use glucose, thereby reducing the risk of kidney complications. In particular, the combination of endurance and strength training is considered the optimal way to exercise to control blood sugar most effectively, according to Healthline .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tap-the-duc-tot-cho-nguoi-co-nguy-co-hoac-dang-mac-benh-than-the-nao-185250616185244992.htm