A 2014 research that was conducted over ten years found that one of the most consistent habits in people with healthy hearts is getting proper sleep. This habit was also mentioned in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology as one of the bedrocks of a healthy heart, which also translates to kidney health, as the two are intimately connected.
Another piece of evidence that came from the National Sleep Foundation is a report that deep sleep activates various brain chemicals that help lower heart rate and blood pressure, leading to better functioning kidneys. They also found that long periods without sleep increase the risk of heart attack and heart disease by more than 50%. It’s important to make sure you get at least seven hours of sleep every night.
Watch Out With Those Pain Killers
Pain relievers are only meant to be taken only when needed. Our reliance on pain relievers is not good for our health as it may incur a heavy debt on our kidneys as they decrease blood flow to the kidneys, and the more you take, the more severe this effect will be, resulting in poor kidney activity which in worse cases can kidney failure.
The New England Journal of Medicine found that heavy use of painkillers such as Advil and Tylenol resulted in over 5,000 cases of kidney failure in the United States annually. As a precaution, painkillers should never be taken never on an empty stomach.
Stand Up Whenever You Can, Especially If You Work a Desk Job
Sitting for more than six hours per day makes you 40% more likely to die within 15 years than someone who sits for less than three hours. If you’re working at a desk job, this is especially important for you to pay attention to, because the risks also affect your kidneys. A recent study done in PLoS One found that just an extra hour of non-sedentary activity reduces your chances of kidney failure by a great deal.
Researchers believe that one of the biggest reasons that sitting contributes to vastly higher rates of kidney disease is that prolonged sitting lowers your blood pressure while increasing your glucose and cholesterol levels. These are all directly correlated with higher rates of kidney failure, likely explaining the phenomena.
Find Out Your Optimal BMI and Stick to it
Any physician today will tell you that there is no doubt that there's a direct correlation between weight gain and heart problems, with the severity of the illnesses only increasing as more weight is gained. A 2018 research in JAMA Cardiology found that having a high BMI (Body Mass Index) puts you at a significantly higher risk of suffering from heart disease.
It's important to do your best to maintain an optimal BMI level, even though it's clear that the BMI system isn't optimized for everyone, due to variations in body types. “There is no one-size-fits-all,” says Dr. Chanté Wiegand, ND, a Naturopathic Doctor and Director of Education at The Synergy Company. Find out next how toothbrushing and e-cigarettes can affect your kidney health.
A Symptomless Disease
One of the biggest mistakes that seemingly healthy people make, is to assume that because they feel healthy overall, there's no need to get themselves checked up by a medical physician. The American Heart Association recommends getting a blood pressure check at least once a year, your blood glucose levels once every three years, and your cholesterol levels every four to six years.
It’s important to take initiative and make sure ahead of time that your health is in good standing. Many medical issues that can be easily treated and even prevented if found early become much harder to treat once they have matured and intensified.