Silent habits that harm the kidneys
A common but little noticed habit is using pain relievers too often, especially ibuprofen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Abusing these drugs can reduce kidney blood supply, gradually causing acute or chronic kidney damage.
Drinking not enough water also causes the kidneys to work harder. When the body is dehydrated, the kidneys must concentrate urine to retain fluid, increasing the risk of kidney stones and urinary tract infections.
In addition, a diet that is too high in protein, especially from red meat or protein supplements, causes the kidneys to filter large amounts of waste. If this condition persists, the kidney's filtering function may decline, especially in middle-aged women.
Frequent urinary retention is a harmful habit but is often underestimated. When urine is held in the bladder for a long time, bacteria have conditions to develop and easily cause urinary tract infections. If the infection recurs many times, bacteria can spread to the kidneys, leaving scars and permanently damaging the kidneys. In addition, abnormal frequent urination can also be an early sign that the kidneys or urinary tract are having problems.
Experts point out risks often overlooked
Dr. Sheel Bhadra Jain, Department of Nephrology & Kidney Transplantation, CK Birla Hospital (Jaipur) said: "Many women are not fully aware that small habits such as drinking less water, eating salty food, taking medicine arbitrarily or skipping regular health check-ups can silently cause kidney damage.
According to Dr. Jain, consuming a lot of processed foods, salty snacks and sugary drinks increases the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes, the two leading causes of kidney failure. In addition, many women subjectively believe that kidney disease mainly affects men, so they postpone examination when symptoms appear.
How to protect the kidneys?
Experts recommend that women should drink enough 6-8 glasses of water per day, unless otherwise directed by a doctor. A balanced diet, rich in green vegetables, fruits and whole grains, while limiting salt, sugar and processed foods is a key factor in protecting the kidneys.
The use of medicine needs to be cautious, avoiding abuse of pain relievers and antibiotics without medical advice. Maintaining regular exercise, controlling weight and monitoring blood pressure and blood sugar also significantly reduces the risk of kidney damage. In particular, women with a family history of kidney disease should have regular kidney function check-ups with blood and urine tests.
Notes
Kidneys are organs that operate silently but play a vital role in health. Small daily habits can create a major impact if they last for many years. Proactively changing lifestyles and listening to the body is the simplest but most effective way for women to protect kidney health and long-term quality of life.
