Howard County Seniors: Do You Know These Facts About Your Kidneys?
Your kidneys take care of you every day. They clean waste products out of your blood and eliminate excess fluids, turning them into urine to exit your body through your bladder. So, are you taking care of your kidneys?
Kidneys are important because they:
- Filter blood
- Keep the right amount of fluids in the body
- Help make red blood cells
- Help keep blood pressure under control
Risk factors for kidney disease include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Being 60 years or older
- Having a family member with kidney disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure
- Being African American/Black, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, American Indian, or Alaska Native
Some ways to protect your kidneys are:
- Keep blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control
- Lose weight, if needed
- Eat healthy meals
- Take all medicines as prescribed
- Get regular exercise
- Don’t smoke
- Limit alcohol
- Avoid some over-the-counter medicines (such as aspirin, naxoproxin, or ibuprofen) because they can harm kidneys