admin | January 14, 2015 | Health |
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 musclemay 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.