Slowing down kidney disease

Knowing you have kidney disease can be scary. You may think there’s no way to keep it from getting worse, but that isn’t true.

You can take steps to slow down or even stop the disease. If you’re in the disease’s early stages, staying healthy is the best way to prevent more damage. Here’s how you can stay healthier for as long as possible.

Control your blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force your blood puts on your blood vessels. If you have high blood pressure, the extra force can damage your blood vessels. This includes the blood vessels that supply your kidneys. It makes it difficult for your kidneys to filter blood well.

Get plenty of rest

It’s important to get a good night’s sleep. Experts recommend getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night.

Learn healthy ways to cope

Many people struggle with stress. Over time, stress may lead to problems like anxiety and depression. It may also result in high blood pressure and high blood sugar.

Learning ways to cope with stress helps you stay healthy. It also helps you avoid issues like depression, which can make it harder to deal with kidney disease. If you need help coping with stress, talk to your doctor.

Keep a healthy weight

If a person is overweight, their kidneys work harder to filter their blood. Over time, this may cause damage. Maintaining a healthy weight takes both diet and exercise. You can work with your doctor to find the best plan for you.

Stop smoking

It’s no secret that smoking is bad for you. Research shows it can make kidney damage worse.

Quitting doesn’t just protect your kidneys. It can also lower your blood pressure, which reduces your risk of heart attacks.

If you want to quit smoking, your doctor can help.

Watch your blood sugar

Diabetes is one of the main risk factors for kidney disease. Diabetes is unusually high levels of sugar in your blood. Over time, it damages your blood vessels and kidneys.