Did you know that some women are more prone to kidney disease? As kidney disease doesn’t cause any symptoms in the initial stages, taking care of kidney health is more important than ever, especially if you’re at risk. Learn what factors make women more susceptible to kidney disease and tips to maintain optimal kidney health in this article. Visit Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center and consult with the best Women’s health specialist in New York.
Are some women more susceptible to kidney disease?
Yes, some women are more prone to kidney disease because of several factors like pregnancy, high blood pressure, and obesity. During the years when you have children, high blood pressure and obesity in women can increase the risk of developing preeclampsia, which leads to acute kidney illness (AKI). Women with AKI and preeclampsia during pregnancy are at higher risk of high blood pressure and CKD later in life. Additionally, autoimmune diseases like lupus more commonly affect women and can cause damage to organs, including the kidneys.
8 Tips for Maintaining Optimal Health
Several strategies can help you maintain optimal health and function of your kidneys. These include:
- Stay hydrated:
Drinking enough water regularly helps to keep your kidneys healthy because it removes sodium and toxins from your kidneys. It also lowers the risk of chronic kidney disease because kidney stones form when the concentration of crystals is high. Drinking enough fluids dilutes the urine and prevents the aggregation of those crystals. Depending on your overall health, age, gender, climate, and exercise intensity, you can adjust your water intake or ask your doctor for a specific recommendation. To start with, you can aim for at least 1.5 to 2 liters in a day.
- Manage your blood pressure:
You should try to keep your blood pressure under 120/80 because high blood pressure can increase the risk of several health issues like high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease, which have a significant impact on your body. So, make changes in your lifestyle and diet to ensure your blood pressure stays in the normal range. If your blood pressure readings are consistently higher than 140/90, then you may have high blood pressure. You should talk with the doctor to monitor your blood pressure regularly and make necessary changes in your lifestyle or medication.
- Manage your diabetes:
If you have diabetes or a condition that increases your blood sugar, it reduces the body’s ability to produce or use insulin, which damages blood vessels throughout the body and forces your kidneys to work harder to filter the blood. Over time, this damages your kidneys because they don’t get essential oxygen and nutrients from the blood vessels present in the kidneys. Make sure you talk with your doctor to know how to keep your blood sugar in the targeted range to prevent the risk of kidney damage.
- No smoking:
Smoking can damage blood vessels and lower the blood flow to the kidneys, which prevents kidneys from functioning properly. Smoking also raises blood pressure and increases the risk of kidney cancer. It damages the body’s blood vessels, which lower blood flow throughout the body, including the kidneys. So, you need to stop smoking to lower the risk of these issues.
- Stay active:
Regular exercise not only helps you lose unwanted pounds but also lowers your blood pressure and boosts your heart health, which are crucial to prevent kidney damage. You don’t have to push yourself too hard, even simple exercises like walking, running, cycling, and even dancing are great choices to keep yourself moving and get good results.
- Consume a healthy diet:
To keep your kidneys free from any stress, find the right balance of foods that provide enough nutrients to meet the body’s needs. Limit the foods that are high in sodium, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium, along with animal proteins and alcohol. Instead, focus on foods that provide you with all the necessary nutrients and minerals, like apples, berries, cabbage, cauliflower, blueberries, fish, whole grains, and more.
- Be aware of your medicines:
If you use over the counter (OTC) medications, vitamins, and supplements regularly, then you need to be cautious because medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen can damage kidneys if you use them regularly for chronic pain, headaches, or arthritis. According to the National Kidney Foundation, these medications are not recommended for more than 10 days (about 1 and a half weeks) for pain or more than 3 days for fever. They can lower your kidney functionality temporarily or permanently. Instead, you can have acetaminophen for occasional use if you have kidney disease. Unless you have been medically supervised, it is recommended to take a dose of an anti-inflammatory drug for only about five consecutive days. After that, you should check up with the doctor to get kidney-safe treatments to manage the problem.
- Get tested if you’re at risk:
While CKD symptoms don’t appear until the disease reaches an advanced state, using a regular kidney function test is an effective way to check your kidney’s health and prevent or slow future damage. Consider a kidney function test if:
- You’re older than 60 years of age.
- Born with low birth weight.
- You have cardiovascular disease or a family history of it.
- You have high blood pressure or a family history of it.
- You have obesity.
- You may be believed to have kidney damage.
- You’re a smoker.
What can you ask your doctor about kidney disease?
You should ask your doctor if your risk of kidney disease is higher than normal. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart or blood vessel problems, you should ask whether to get tested for kidney disease. The only way to find out about kidney disease for sure is to get tested. Most women don’t get severe symptoms in the preliminary stages of kidney disease. However, if you notice any of the following symptoms, you should let your doctor know.
- Less energy
- Poor appetite
- Trouble sleeping
- Dry, itchy skin
- Swollen feet or ankles
- Urge to urinate more frequently, especially at night
- Difficulty thinking clearly
As a woman, you need to give special attention to kidney health because several factors increase the risk of kidney disease in women, like pregnancy, high blood pressure, obesity, etc. If you have any of these risk factors, make sure you follow the above-mentioned tips to keep your kidneys healthy and functional. If you still have doubts, talk with your doctor to get a kidney health assessment.
Need more advice about your balance, call us on +1-718-367-2555 to talk with your women’s health expert for professional medical help for your health concerns. Log on to www.doralhw.org or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 to book an appointment. At Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center, we have the best GYN doctor in Brooklyn, and we provide women with quality health care services. You can also visit our website at https://doralhw.org/department/gynecology/
