If you suffer from chronic kidney disease, there are steps you can take to help protect your kidneys from additional damage. Taking action sooner rather than later is important to not only your kidney health, but overall health. Steps you take to improve your kidney function can also improve your heart health.
Steps to Take to Help Manage Kidney Disease
1. Control blood pressure
Keeping your blood pressure under control helps, reduce damage to your kidneys. Talk to your doctor about what a healthy blood pressure range is for you. And set goals to keep your blood pressure within that range. The average range for a healthy adult is less than 140/90 mm Hg. The National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends the following steps to meet your blood pressure goals: eating heart-healthy and low-sodium meals, quitting smoking, being active, getting enough sleep, and taking your medicines as prescribed.
2. If you are diabetic, meet your blood glucose goals
If you have diabetes, it is important to meet your glucose goals and check your glucose regularly. Follow your provider's instructions on maintaining a healthy glucose level, with medications, food choices, and physical activity. Talk to your doctor about what your goals should be and develop a plan to meet those goals.
3. Build a healthy meal plan
Talk to your provider or a dietitian about the foods you should be eating to maintain healthy kidney function. Discuss the foods you like to eat and prepare a meal plan that allows you to cook foods you enjoy at home. Preparing foods from scratch is often healthier.
4. Pick physical activities you can stick to
Being physically active is not only essential to kidney health but overall heart health and wellness. Finding physical activities you enjoy is important to keep active. Talk to your doctor about physical activities that are suitable for you.
5. Maintain a healthy weight
Creating plans for 1-4 can help you maintain a healthy weight.
6. Stop smoking
If you are a smoker, reducing or quitting smoking can help lower your blood pressure and improve your kidney health.
Dr. Vamsi Chilluru, specialty doctor at Memorial Hospital specializes in nephrology (study of the kidneys) and internal medicine. His areas of interest include Interventional Nephrology, electrolyte abnormalities, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and glomerulonephritis.
His favorite thing about his specialty is helping his patients manage various complex medical problems within the scope of nephrology.
He enjoys making every patient's life better and helping to ease their suffering.
Don't suffer with kidney problems. Talk to a provider about a personalized plan to help you improve your kidney health.
Dr. Chilluru holds outpatient clinics at Memorial Hospital's Specialty Clinic on Fridays. To learn more about our specialists call Memorial Hospital Specialty Clinic at (618) 826-4581 ext. 1366
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