"A lot of people become quite alarmed when they are told that they have CKD," says Dr Richard Glassock, professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "But it is quite common in older adults and is just another natural part of aging."
Most cases are mild and do not require treatment, but some can progress to the point where the kidneys cannot process waste efficiently enough to prevent it from accumulating in the body to dangerous levels. Untreated, it can become life threatening.
Here are 4 things you can start doing right now to lower your risk of developing serious CKD later.
Don't over medicate.
Over the counter NSAID drugs such as Advil and Aleve are commonly used for pain relief. But taking them frequently can raise your risk of CKD. And people who routinely take PPI drugs for heartburn (such as Nexium or Prilosec) are nearly 30 times more likely to develop serious CKD than those who rarely or never take them. Have a conversation with your primary health care provider about alternatives if you are a heavy user.
Skip the sugary drinks.
Consumption of soda and sweetened fruit drinks is strongly linked to a higher risk of CKD. So is alcohol.
Cut back on red meat.
You don't need to avoid it entirely, but research suggests that people who eat as little as 2 ounces of red meat daily have an elevated risk of severe CKD compared with those who eat half an ounce or less. Plant sources of protein may actually reduce your risk.
Don't smoke.
Seriously, do you need to be told this again? A tobacco smoking habit reduces blood flow the the kidneys which over time will damage them. As if cancer was not reason enough.
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