Last month, we looked at heart health. Now, we’re going to celebrate Kidney Month! Let’s start off with some unbelievable facts that the Kidney Foundation of Canada provided us with:
- 1 in 10 Canadians has Kidney Disease
- 36,251 Canadians are being treated for for kidney failure
- 15 individuals are told their kidneys are failing daily
- 4,585 people are waiting for an organ donation… approximately 76% of those are waiting for a kidney
- 46.5% of kidney transplants come from live donors
After seeing those facts, are you ready to take action and try your best to prevent kidney disorders? Here are 8 simple steps to help keep your kidneys healthy:
- Don’t smoke. Smoking can limit the blood flow to the kidneys, which can impair the function of the kidneys. Additionally, smoking significantly increases the risk of kidney cancer.
- Stay active! Consistently exercising helps to reduce blood pressure and can reduce the risk of Chronic Kidney Disease.
- Watch your blood sugar levels. Individuals that have diabetes can develop kidney damage. These people are encouraged to have regular kidney check-ups.
- Keep your blood pressure within the healthy range. Did you know that high blood pressure is the most common cause of kidney damage? Look at the link below for blood pressure information.
- Maintain a healthy diet. Take a look at our previous blogs for healthy meals, snacks and proper daily intake!
- Fluids are important. Drinking lots of water (1.5L-2L) can help the kidneys flush out sodium, urea and toxins.
- Ask your doctor what you can do from a medical standpoint to keep your kidneys healthy.
Blood pressure information:
http://www.heartandstroke.ca/heart/risk-and-prevention/condition-risk-factors/high-blood-pressure
Our kidneys are so amazing! They do so much for us. They create urine, remove waste and extra fluid from the body, balance the chemicals of the body, assist in maintaining blood pressure, and help our body make red blood cells.
Are you wondering how you can help others suffering from kidney disorders? Register to become an organ donor:
To become a live kidney donor, visit this website:
https://blood.ca/en/organs-tissues/becoming-live-kidney-donor
Wishing you extraordinary health not only this month, but infinitely. Happy Kidney Month!
References:
https://kidney.ca/facing-the-facts
http://www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/take-care-of-your-kidneys/8-golden-rules/
UNIVERSAL HOME CARE SUDBURY 