4. Regular use of painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication like analgesic.
Analgesics are easy to acquire. They are over-the-counter drugs. These are painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications use to mend pain, lower inflammation, and fever. Unfortunately, due to the ease of access to these medicine, people tend to take analgesics even for the slightest of pains.
This habit can cause damage on kidneys, and on other organs as well. According to a research, over-the-counter analgesics can decrease the blood flow to the kidneys and worsen their functioning.
Long-term or heavy use of analgesics causes acute kidney injury or interstitial nephritis which is a chronic kidney disease.
For individuals with reduced kidney function, consult their doctor before taking any painkiller. Analgesics should be taken for the shortest time and at the lowest dose possible, even for those with normal kidney function.
RECOMMENDATION: Practice responsible drug use. You are not supposed to take over-the-counter drugs for pain or fever immediately after feeling pained or when feverish especially when it is not that bad. For example, if you suspect you have a flu, try natural remedies to help subside your fever and wait for two days to three days before taking analgesic.
In any case, consult your doctor before taking any medication.
5. Eating too much protein.
Attention gym buffs. Eating too much protein-based foods like red meat can actually raise your risk of kidney diseases.
Remember that kidneys have an important role in metabolizing and eliminating nitrogenous wastes from the body. Nitrogenous wastes are usually by-products of protein digestion.
High intake of protein chronically raises the glomerular pressure and hyperfiltration, thus increasing the metabolic load of kidneys, which increases the risk of developing kidney issues.
RECOMMENDATION: Limit the amount of red meat consumption. If you have an existing kidney disease, stop consuming red meat. It will aggravate your situation. \
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6. Too much alcohol consumption.
It’s common knowledge that alcohol is bad for the kidneys and the liver, too. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can lead to severe kidney and liver damage. That is why drinking in moderation is highly recommended.
What happens when you drink too much alcohol anyways? Well, if you drink excessive amounts of alcohol, the uric acid will be stored in the renal tubules (a set of tubes in the kidney), causing tubular obstruction which raises the risk of developing kidney failure. Furthermore, alcohol leads to dehydration and impedes the normal kidney functioning.
RECOMMENDATION: The healthy amounts of alcohol consumed on a daily basis are 1 drink for women and older people, and 2 drinks for men. Moreover, drink lots of water when drinking alcohol or caffeine. Both are anti-diuretic and causes dehydration as both prevents water reabsorption in the Loop of Henle in the kidney (that’s where water is reabsorbed and urine is ultimately produced).
