Simple Strategies to Prevent Kidney Diseases & Kidney Stones
According to the United States Renal Data System Annual Data Report 2022, Singapore ranks first in the world for diabetes-induced kidney failure. Dr Kwek Jia Liang, senior consultant at SGH's Department of Renal Medicine, says the cause of chronic kidney disease in Singapore is attributed to diabetes in 2 out of 3 patients with stage 5, or last stage, chronic kidney disease.
Be that as it may, we often tend to underestimate the importance of our kidneys when considering our overall health. In fact, our kidneys are as important to our health as our heart or lungs.
Causes of Kidney Disease
There are many interrelated complex health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, autoimmune disease and obesity that increase the risk of kidney disease. In addition, other risk factors include a family history of kidney disease, dehydration, and certain dietary habits, especially a diet high in protein, sodium and sugar.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are hard, solid deposits that form in the kidneys when minerals and salts in the urine crystallize and clump together. Kidney stones can be extremely painful as they travel through the urinary tract.
Common symptoms include severe cramping pain in the lower back or side, often radiating to the groin or abdomen, blood in the urine, frequent urination, painful urination, cloudy or foul-smelling urine.
You should see a doctor if you have severe, persistent pain in your lower back, side, abdomen, or groin that does not get better or gets worse. Additionally, pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting is also a worrisome symptom. Furthermore, in case of pain accompanied by fever and chills, blood in your urine, or if you have difficulty urinating, it is important to seek medical attention.
Prevention of Kidney Stones
First, choose a diet low in refined sugar, salt and animal protein.
Second, the kidneys need adequate hydration to function properly. Consequently, not drinking enough every day increases your risk for kidney stones.
Third, overweight or obesity increase the risk of kidney disease or kidney stones.
Fourth, avoid or quit smoking. Smoking can damage blood vessels and worsen kidney function. Limit alcohol consumption.
Fifth, adopt good hygiene practices to reduce the risk of urinary tract infection.
Essential Supplement to Prevent Kidney Disease
Our kidneys filter our blood and remove unwanted fluids. Subsequently, the excess fluid is directed to the bladder where it is excreted as urine. This process requires a delicate balance of sodium and potassium to pull the water through a cell wall from the bloodstream into a collecting duct that leads to the bladder.
The problem is that most people today consume excessive amounts of salt. In fact, most of this salt comes from processed foods, which in turn leads to potassium deficiency. Consequently, this exacerbates the negative effects of a high-sodium diets.
Eating foods high in salt increases the amount of sodium in our blood. This upsets the delicate balance between sodium and potassium. It also hinders our kidneys' ability to excrete excess water.
Cancer cells thrive in a high sodium environment but die in a high-potassium environment.
Wouldn't it be good to know that there is an important supplement that can help replenish potassium levels in the body?
Consultation to Prevent Kidney Disease and Kidney Stones
- Discuss your eating habits, particularly consumption of sodium.
- Advise on a combination of lifestyle improvements.
- Develop a nutritional program that reduces your risk of kidney stones.
- Recommend an essential supplementation and other necessary supplementation to help in the balance of sodium and potassium.