Preventing Chronic Kidney Disease

There are many ways to help prevent chronic kidney disease (CKD). By managing risk factors and practicing healthy habits, you can minimize excessive damage to the kidneys and help avoid a major health issue.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, you can reduce your risk of developing kidney disease by:

  • Following instructions on the package insert and your health care provider when using nonprescription pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
  • Maintaining a healthy weight by being physically active most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, talk with your health care provider about strategies for weight management.
  • Not smoking. Cigarette smoking can damage your kidneys and make existing kidney damage worse. If you smoke, talk to your health care provider about strategies for quitting.
  • Working with your health care provider on controlling diseases or conditions that increase your risk of kidney disease.
  • Managing your blood glucose (sugar) if you have diabetes.
  • Avoiding painkillers and other medications that may make your kidney disease worse.
  • Managing your blood pressure levels.
  • Following a kidney-friendly diet. Dietary changes may include limiting protein, eating foods that reduce blood cholesterol levels and limiting sodium (salt) and potassium intake.

Screenings and Testing

The importance of early detection

Since there is no cure for chronic kidney disease, you and your health care provider should take steps to preserve your kidney function for as long as possible. Early detection might help prevent your kidney disease from progressing to end-stage kidney failure. This is particularly important if you have a medical condition that increases your risk of kidney disease.

New advances in treatment help slow the progression of kidney disease, treat the underlying causes, and treat complications associated with chronic kidney disease such as bone and mineral disorder.

You should schedule regular visits to your health care providers (nephrologist or kidney specialist) who will monitor your blood pressure and kidney function with urine and blood tests.

Measure your blood pressure regularly to help your health care team diagnose any kidney problems early. You and your health care team can take steps to control your blood pressure if it’s too high. You can get your blood pressure measured:

  • At a health care provider’s office.
  • At a pharmacy that has a digital blood pressure measurement machine.
  • With a blood pressure monitor at home.
    • Take your blood pressure at the same time every day.
    • Take at least two readings at one or two minutes apart.
    • Record your blood pressure readings and show them to your health care provider.

Diet and Metabolism

Chronic kidney disease patients, particularly those with diabetes and hypertension, should maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, not smoking, and controlling your weight.

Here are some steps to take to help support kidney function.

Step 1: Cut down your daily salt and sodium intake.

Sodium is a mineral that supports many vital functions and is regulated by the kidneys. With chronic kidney disease, too much sodium can cause fluid buildup, swelling or edema, higher blood pressure, and strain on your heart.

Why?

To help control your blood pressure and limit fluid buildup in your body. Remember, one of the most common causes of chronic kidney disease is high blood pressure. Eating less sodium helps lower blood pressure and may slow down chronic kidney disease. Certain factors may influence your sensitivity to salt: age, weight and medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

Step 2: Eat the right type and right amount of protein.

Our body needs protein to build muscle, repair tissue, and support other essential functions including fighting infection. When the body uses or processes protein, it produces waste. Kidneys remove this waste.

Why?

Eating more protein than you need can cause waste to generate and build up in your blood. This can put extra strain on your kidneys. If you have chronic kidney disease, you may need to watch how much protein you eat. If protein intake is too low, it may cause other problems, so it’s essential to eat the right amount each day.

Step 3: Choose heart-healthy foods.

The heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to all parts of your body, including the kidneys. The kidneys clean the blood by removing waste products and extra water, sodium and other toxins.

Why?

Heart disease is the most common cause of death among people who have chronic kidney disease. Kidney disease and heart disease share two of the same main causes: diabetes and high blood pressure. A heart-healthy diet can help protect you from heart disease as well as kidney disease.

Step 4: Choose low-potassium foods.

In the early stage of kidney disease, foods high in potassium are often heart-healthy. However, as your kidney function declines, you may need to eat foods low in potassium. Some patients may have difficulty getting rid of potassium via their kidneys. Potassium works with the muscles, nerve and heart. Too much or too little potassium in the blood can be very dangerous. The amount of potassium you need is based on your kidney function and your medications.

Why?

Damaged kidneys allow potassium to build up in your blood, which can cause serious heart problems. Your food choices may help you lower your blood potassium level.

Step 5: Choose foods and drinks with less phosphorus.

Along with calcium, phosphorus is needed to build strong healthy bones. However, high phosphorus levels can cause damage to your body.

Why?

As kidney function declines, extra phosphorus can start building up in the blood. High phosphorus and calcium levels may deposit in blood vessels, the heart and other organs. Over time this can lead to increased risk of a heart attack, stroke or death. Too much phosphorus in blood pulls calcium from your bones, making them more likely to break.

Your doctor may prescribe you a phosphate binder with meals to lower the amount of phosphorus in your blood. A phosphate binder acts like a sponge to soak up or bind phosphorus while it’s in the stomach.

Learn more on how to plan a kidney-healthy diet (PDF)

Physical Activity

Staying active helps decrease the risk of serious health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and chronic kidney disease. Physical activity is anything that gets your body moving. Physical activity is important for people with chronic kidney disease because staying active can help you:

  • Lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight.
  • Control blood pressure.
  • Manage blood sugar.

Adults of all shapes, sizes and abilities can benefit from being physically active. Physical activity is one of the best things people with chronic kidney disease can do to improve their overall health and well-being. It can:

  • Lower risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.
  • Elevate mood and reduce risk of depression.
  • Help support better sleep.
  • Manage stress.
  • Improve muscle strength.
  • Improve memory and sharpen focus.
  • Reduce risk of falls.
  • Improve bone health.

Learn more about physical activities that support kidney health (PDF).

Additional Risks

Smoking

Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the U.S., according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body including the kidneys. There are hundreds of chemicals and toxins in tobacco. Once you inhale or chew tobacco, these toxins get into your blood. One well-known toxin is nicotine, which reduces and impairs the amount of oxygen that your blood can carry throughout the body for normal functioning.

Learn more about quitting smoking for chronic kidney disease (PDF).

Alcohol

Your kidneys filter toxins and harmful substances from your blood. One of these substances is alcohol. Alcohol can cause changes in kidney function.

Kidneys help maintain the right amount of water or fluid in your body. Alcohol dehydrates (dries out) the body, and this can negatively affect organ function.

Alcohol can also raise blood pressure. Over time, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure is the second most common cause of chronic kidney disease.

Alcohol may increase or decrease the effects of medications for diabetes, blood pressure and other symptoms. Alcohol, particularly beer, contains high levels of purines which increases the production of uric acid. People with chronic kidney disease may not eliminate uric acid from their blood, leading to gout and kidney stones. Uric acid may accelerate the progression of kidney disease.

Learn more on the effects of alcohol on kidneys (PDF).

Stress, Sleep and the Immune System

Everyone gets stressed from time to time, and there are different types of stress. Sometimes, stress can help you survive in a dangerous situation. However, dealing with any chronic health condition such as chronic kidney disease can be extremely stressful. If you are experiencing stress, anxiety and sleep disorders, you’re not alone.

Stress is how your body responds to a challenge. When you are stressed, your body releases hormones that control how different parts of your body work or respond to stimuli. During stressful events, release of these hormones may cause high blood pressure, increased heart rate and elevated blood sugar levels. Chronic stress may lead to uncontrolled diabetes and blood pressure. Uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure increase the risk of chronic kidney disease and may lead to progressive declines in kidney function.