Shining a Spotlight on Kidney Health
(NAPSI)—Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located just below your rib cage, one on each side of your spine. Working around the clock, your kidneys filter approximately 150 quarts of blood each day, removing waste and extra fluid from your body.
Taking steps to protect your kidneys can help keep your body healthy and may prevent or slow the progression of kidney disease. It’s never too early to take steps to keep your kidneys healthy. Even small steps can make a big difference.
Talk with a health care professional about kidney disease risk factors and develop a plan together to address those risks. You may be at a higher risk for kidney disease if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, a history of acute kidney injury or a family history of kidney disease.
Help maintain your kidneys by following healthy habits:
• Manage diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease by working with a health care professional.
• Be physically active for at least 30 minutes each day.
• Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
• Quit smoking and limit your alcohol intake.
• Try to eat healthy foods and stay hydrated.
• Manage stress.
It takes time to build healthy habits, but the benefits to your health are worth it. Start small and reach out for support when needed.
Stay informed about your kidney health! Early on, kidney disease often has no symptoms. In fact, as many as 90% of people who have kidney disease don’t know they have it. If you are over 60 or have risk factors for kidney disease at any age, ask a health care professional about getting tested.
