Keep Your Kidneys Happy! Tips to Prevent End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
Did you know your kidneys are super important? They’re like tiny cleaning machines in your body, filtering out waste and keeping you healthy. But sometimes, kidneys can get sick and stop working properly. This is called End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). It’s a serious problem, but there are things you can do to help keep your kidneys healthy!
What Do Kidneys Do?
Think of your kidneys like a water filter. They:
- Clean your blood: They remove waste and extra water from your blood to make urine (pee).
- Balance minerals: They keep the right amounts of important minerals like sodium and potassium in your body. This can also help in maintaining bone strength.
- Make hormones: They help control your blood pressure and make red blood cells.
What is ESRD?
ESRD means your kidneys have stopped working well enough to keep you alive without special treatments like dialysis or a kidney transplant. ESRD is usually the final stage of CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease). Dialysis is a treatment that uses a machine to clean your blood.
How Can You Keep Your Kidneys Healthy?
Here are some simple things you can do:
- Eat Healthy Foods:
- Choose fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Try to eat less salty and processed foods. Too much salt can hurt your kidneys.
- Learn more about healthy eating from this great resource: ChooseMyPlate.gov
- Drink Plenty of Water:
- Water helps your kidneys flush out waste.
- How much water should you drink? Talk to your doctor, but staying hydrated is important.
- Stay Active:
- Exercise helps you stay healthy overall, and that includes your kidneys!
- Find fun ways to move, like playing outside or riding your bike (talk to your doctor about safe activity levels).
- Keep a Healthy Weight:
- Being overweight can put extra strain on your kidneys.
- Talk to your doctor or a grown up you trust about healthy ways to maintain a healthy weight.
- Manage Diabetes and High Blood Pressure:
- These conditions can damage your kidneys if they are not controlled.
- If you or someone in your family has diabetes or high blood pressure, it’s important to follow your doctor’s advice.
- Learn more about Diabetes from the CDC here: CDC Diabetes Basics
- Learn more about high blood pressure from the CDC here: CDC High Blood Pressure
- Don’t Smoke:
- Smoking is bad for your whole body, including your kidneys.
- Take Medicine Safely:
- Some medicines can hurt your kidneys if you take too much. Always follow your doctor’s instructions.
- Get Regular Checkups:
- Your doctor can check your kidney health during regular checkups.
Community Health Choice is Here to Help!
We want you and your family to stay healthy. If you have any questions about kidney health, talk to your doctor or give us a call. We’re here to help you live your best and healthiest life!
Remember, taking care of your kidneys is important for a happy and healthy life. Start making healthy choices today!
