Primarily, kidneys process blood to soift out waste products and extra water. While there are many reasons behind the development of kidney problems, there are some common habits that people do that can cause great damage to their kidneys.
Kidneys are organs responsible for filtering blood, producing hormones, absorbing minerals, produce urine and maintaining a healthy acid-alkaline balance. A person can live a normal life with only 20 percent of their kidney function which is why damage caused by bad habits to a person's kidneys can go unnoticed for a long time.
1. Not enough water
Kidneys need to be properly hydrated to be able to perform their proper function such as its ability to secrete waste products. The lack of fluids will not be enough to drain the toxins that accumulate in the blood through kidneys, according to Natural News.
2. High salt and sugar consumption
A study conducted at Osaka University in Japan reported that the participants who drank larger amounts of soda were more likely to have protein in their urine, which is an early sign of kidney damage. Kidneys need to work harder to metabolize 95 percent of salt consumed through food which may eventually lead to a decreased kidney function due to overworking.
3. Delaying the call of nature
One of the main causes of kidney problems is keeping a full bladder or delaying the urge to pee. Delaying the call of nature can put pressure in the kidney and eventually lead to its failure. Since urine is full of bacteria ready to be expelled, bacteria can breed in the urine and multiply causing kidney problems or urinary tract infections (UTI).
4. Smoking cigarettes
Smoking has been linked to arthsclerosis, which is the hardening and narrowing of blood vessels, that affect the blood supply to vital organs, including kidneys. Smoking can also speed up the loss of kidney functions and worsen already existing kidney diseases.
5. Excessive caffeine and alcohol
In a 2002 study published by the Kidney International, caffeine consumption has a strong connection with kidney stones as it can also increase calcium excretion in urine. Too much caffeine may also cause high blood pressure, which can cause damage to kidneys.
Similar to caffeine, alcohol cannot only damage the liver but also kidneys. Drinking alcohol in high amounts will cause uric acid and tubular obstruction, which can eventually lead to kidney failure.
6. Abuse in painkillers
All pharmaceutical drugs come with side effects, which can cause damage to the kidneys, according to Healthy and Natural World. Heavy or long-term use of analgesics may cause chronic kidney disease or acute renal failure.
7. Lack of sleep
Chronic sleep disruption may cause kidney disease as kidney tissue gets renewed during night, according to Dr. Michael Sole, cardiologist and founding director of the Peter Munk Cardiac Center and professor of medicine and physiology at the University of Toronto. Studies also show that sleepless nights may cause high blood pressure, which in turn, causes problems with the kidney.
