Kidneys play a vital role in keeping your body healthy and free of any disease. This bean-shaped organ has a crucial purpose in the body: filter out excess water and other contaminants from the blood, and store the waste products in the bladder to remove during urination.
There are numerous kidney disease cases in the country, but luckily, the emergence of telehealth in Singapore has made it easier to treat kidney conditions.
Kidneys are essential in the human body, so you should take care of them properly. To do so, you should pay more attention to what you’re eating, as several foods and drinks cause harm to your kidney.
You can do your best to avoid bad habits, but what about everyday habits you don’t realise are harmful? Read on to know the 5 unhealthy habits you may be doing that can damage your kidneys!
High sugar intake
You probably know that sweet food, such as donuts, is not healthy for your waistline, but do you know that these high-sugar treats can also damage your kidney? Eating or drinking food with lots of sugar is one of the most common habits harmful to your kidneys because diabetes and obesity impact how well your kidneys function.
When there’s too much sugar in your body, your kidneys can no longer effectively filter protein from your system.
Consuming excessive painkillers
Over-the-counter painkillers have a severe risk of causing long-term damage to your kidneys’ health. The class of drugs known as the main culprit is Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen, Motrin, Toradol, and Advil.
These medications can damage and reduce blood flow to the kidneys. To prevent damage to your kidneys, try to use painkillers to a minimum.
Too much salt
High salt intake could lead to kidney failure, as salt is a risk factor for high blood pressure – the most common cause of kidney failure. If you have an astounding amount of salt intake, chances are you’ll get elevated blood pressure, which can negatively affect your kidneys.
An average person should only be intaking two grams of sodium or less, so make sure to put a stop to your bad habit of too much salt intake.
Unrestrained alcohol intake
If you drink alcohol in excess, it can damage your kidneys in the long run. Excessive alcohol intake leads to hypertension, which is one of the leading causes of kidney failure.
Alternatively, when you drink too much alcohol, it can cause you to use the restroom continuously. When you urinate excessively, it causes dehydration, which can also damage the kidneys.
Smoking cigarettes
When you look up any disease on the internet, you will notice that smoking cigarettes can often be found on the list, and kidney disease is not an exception. Smoking cigarettes is another bad habit that can damage your kidney health.
Smoking cigarettes lead to poor circulation, resulting in your kidneys not getting enough blood flow. Besides kidney failure, smoking also is a risk factor for kidney cancers.
Conclusion
Kidney failure is a life-threatening disease, so it’s crucial to actively try and keep your kidney healthy. If you have kidney disease symptoms or suspect that your kidneys have issues, it’s essential to immediately book an online medical consultation in Singapore!
Thanks to the birth of telemedicine in Singapore, you can be diagnosed and treated while staying at home! To get started, download and start using the MyCLNQ app!