Daily habits to protect your kidneys: Four major adverse factors and key points for kidney protection
37. Daily Habits for Protecting the Kidneys
The human body undergoes metabolism every moment. The body must constantly absorb various nutrients and produce a series of harmful substances and waste products that the body does not need. These harmful substances need to be excreted through the kidneys to regulate the body's acid-base, electrolyte, and fluid balance, maintaining normal life functions. Therefore, for middle-aged men, protecting their kidneys is extremely important for delaying aging and maintaining health.
Drinking plenty of water in daily life can promote metabolism, help the kidneys excrete waste, significantly reduce the concentration of toxic substances in the kidneys, and prevent kidney damage. When a person is sick and has a fever, metabolism increases, and the production of toxic substances and waste also increases. At this time, drinking more water becomes very important to help with excretion.
Four lifestyle habits that are bad for your kidneys
Not drinking enough water, eating too much salt, and staying up late are all detrimental to kidney health. High work stress, chronic sleep deprivation, and a fondness for coffee and strong tea can easily lead to kidney problems. A diet high in salt can cause high blood pressure, disrupting the normal blood flow to the kidneys and increasing the risk of kidney disease. Prolonged lack of water intake also reduces urine output, increasing the concentration of toxins and waste in the urine and potentially causing hydronephrosis and kidney stones.
Drinking beer and eating seafood, along with excessive intake of high-protein foods such as meat and fish, leads to the production of excessive metabolic waste products like urea nitrogen and uric acid, increasing the burden on the kidneys. Excessive alcohol consumption easily leads to hyperuricemia, and these habits often cause metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, ultimately resulting in kidney disease. In summer, many people enjoy drinking beer and eating seafood, but this dietary pattern can severely damage the kidneys.
Holding in urine frequently. The longer urine stays in the body, the more bacteria grow. These bacteria can travel up the ureters to the kidneys, leading to pyelonephritis and urinary tract infections. Once this happens, it becomes a chronic infection that is extremely difficult to cure.
Excessive or indiscriminate use of medications can be harmful. Some medications, if taken long-term, can severely damage the kidneys. These medications include traditional Chinese medicines containing aristolochic acid, such as Aristolochia debilis, Aristolochia fangchi, and Aristolochia manshuriensis, as well as nonsteroidal antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as acetaminophen and pain relievers, all of which can damage the kidneys.
Key points for daily kidney protection
Be careful of medications that can damage your kidneys. Many medications are very harmful to the kidneys, such as streptomycin, kanamycin, and sulfonamides. These medications should be taken with caution. If you need to take medication, you should do so under the guidance of a doctor, choosing medications that are less harmful to the kidneys whenever possible, and you should also drink plenty of water.
Preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs). Middle-aged men are prone to UTIs because their renal blood flow is significantly reduced compared to younger men, and their kidneys' resistance is also considerably weakened. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men can easily lead to UTIs, so timely detection and treatment are crucial.
Pay attention to keeping your lower back warm. In hot weather, avoid sleeping outdoors in the cool, dry conditions; sleeping shirtless on stone slabs, wooden boards, etc., is not advisable. In cold seasons, pay attention to keeping your lower back warm to prevent wind and cold from invading the kidneys, thereby reducing or affecting kidney function.
Controlling blood pressure is important. Thickening of the intima is common in the renal arteries of men, and this condition is exacerbated if the patient has high blood pressure.
Keep your urination regular. If you experience urinary tract obstruction or difficulty urinating, the chances of developing kidney parenchyma and renal pelvis increase, putting a greater burden on your kidneys.
Maintain good sleep habits and a positive mental state. Cultivate some beneficial hobbies, maintain an optimistic attitude, keep regular sleep schedules, and avoid staying up late.
Pay attention to your diet. Your daily diet should not be too oily or too salty (daily salt intake should not exceed 6 grams), and you should eat as little as possible food containing food additives or pickled products.
Rubbing your hair can nourish the kidneys and lower back, and unblock the meridians. You can gently rub and massage your scalp with your left and right hands alternately, once each in the morning, noon, and evening. This can help prevent dizziness, premature hair loss, and gray hair. Teeth are also closely related to the kidneys; sufficient kidney energy results in healthy teeth. Strong teeth are also very beneficial to the kidneys, so you can regularly tap your upper and lower teeth together.