Why doctors don’t warn you about the effect of high blood pressure medication and why its dangerous to stay on the same blood pressure medication for years? My mom was on the same one for 50 years and it destroyed her kidneys.
I am sorry to hear that your mother has kidney disease or kidney failure. Unfortunately, I cannot give medical advice or speak to how your mother’s medications may have affected her kidneys. However, it is important to take prescribed medications to meet blood pressure goals. High blood pressure and diabetes are the leading causes of kidney disease.
When an enlarged prostate decreases your urine flow; how does that effect your kidneys?
When an enlarged prostate decreases urine flow, urine can stay in the bladder for a longer period of time, allowing bacteria to grow. This can cause a urinary tract infection. If left untreated, bacteria can travel through connecting tubes, called ureters, into the kidneys and cause a kidney infection. If a kidney infection is left untreated, it may damage the kidneys.
When you have a history of urinary tract infections, how does that impact your kidneys?
If you treat urinary tract infections promptly and successfully, kidney damage may be avoided. Your kidneys are connected to your bladder through tubes called ureters. If a UTI is not treated, there is a chance the infection could travel through the tubes into the kidneys and cause a kidney infection. If a kidney infection is left untreated, it may damage the kidneys.
My mother died of complications of kidney cancer. She had it for nearly 50 years. Is kidney cancer hereditary?
I’m so sorry to hear about your mother. To learn more about kidney cancer and if it can run in families, I encourage you to visit the National Cancer Institute’s website. I also urge you to ask your health care provider this question, as he or she knows your medical history and can offer more specific guidance.
I just recently lost a kidney due to a large cancerous tumor. Please ask the doctor the best way for people with one kidney to protect the remaining one.
I’m sorry to hear about your health issues. You can help protect your remaining kidney with a healthy lifestyle.
- Make healthy food choices such as fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products.
- Make physical activity part of your routine. Try to be active for 30 minutes or more on most days.
- Aim for a healthy weight. If you are overweight or obese, work with your health care provider or dietitian to create a realistic weight-loss plan.
- Get enough sleep. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Try to keep the same sleep and wake schedule every day.
- Stop smoking and limit alcohol intake.
- Explore stress-reducing activities, including physical activity, meditation, or yoga.
Good morning TJMS Fam, is using cranberry tablets/cranberry juice good for your kidney?
For an overall healthy lifestyle, I recommend choosing water or fat-free or low-fat milk instead of soda or juice drinks.
I’m Type 2…is Crystal Light really a good drink for diabetics?
When it comes to managing your diabetes, it’s great that you are thinking about the impact of what you drink when it comes to weight and blood glucose (sugar). Many people only think about the food they eat.
People with diabetes are encouraged to avoid sugary drinks like regular soda, fruit punch, fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks, sweet tea, and other sugary drinks. These will raise blood glucose and can provide several hundred calories in just one serving. Water is really the perfect drink when it comes to hydration because it doesn’t have calories, sugar, or carbs.
Sugar substitutes, also known as non-nutritive sweeteners or artificial sweeteners, have little to no calories or carbohydrates and are often considered “free foods,” with generally no effect on your blood glucose or waistline. Products, such as Crystal Lite, use non-nutritive sweeteners in place of sugar to sweeten and enhance the flavor of beverages. There are six non-nutritive sweeteners that have been tested and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
- acesulfame potassium (also called acesulfame K)
- aspartame
- saccharin
- sucralose
- neotame
- advantame
Substituting non-nutritive sweeteners for sugars added to foods and beverages may help people with diabetes reach and maintain a healthy body weight – as long as the substitution doesn’t lead to eating additional calories later as “compensation.” What you choose to eat and drink as part of your diabetes management plan needs to work for you in the long-term and consider your personal preferences, dietary intake, and diabetes-related health goals. These are important elements of a nutrition plan and are some of the considerations that you and members of your health care team should discuss.
On a side note, if you are looking for other ways to add flavor to your beverage (without adding calories), you can try to mix things up by choosing unsweetened teas. Hot or cold – black, green, and herbal teas provide lots of variety. You could also try sparkling water or make your own infused water at home. To make infused water, you put water in the refrigerator with cucumbers, or strawberries, or fresh mint (just a few ideas) for a refreshing low-calorie drink. You can certainly get creative based on your favorite fruit!
I gave my mom a kidney. So my question is will it make gout flareups more common?
Gout is caused by the buildup of crystals made of a substance called uric acid in your joints. You are more likely to have too much acid in the blood if you have renal insufficiency, a condition in which your kidneys don’t get rid of enough waste.
I encourage you to talk to your doctor about your concerns. I also encourage you to adopt a healthy lifestyle, including aiming for a healthy weight and eating fewer foods that are high in purines. You can learn more about gout and treatments on the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease’s website.
What is the test for kidney disease? Is it the A1C test? I know this tests for diabetes and the number should be below 7.
AGreat question. The A1C blood test provides information about your average levels of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, over the past 3 months. To check for kidney disease, health care providers use a blood test and a urine test. The blood test, called GFR, checks how well your kidneys are filtering your blood. GFR stands for glomerular filtration rate. The urine test checks for albumin. Albumin is a protein that can pass into the urine when the kidneys are damaged.
How much sodium and protein should CKD patients eat?
Eating right for chronic kidney disease (CKD) will depend on your kidney function. As your kidney disease gets worse, you may need to make more changes to what you eat and drink.
No matter what stage of CKD, it’s important to control your blood pressure with a diet containing less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day. Look for food labels with words like sodium free or salt free; or low, reduced, or no salt or sodium; or unsalted or lightly salted.
You may also want to see a registered dietitian. Since protein is found in foods from plants and animals, a dietitian can tell you what amount and types of protein are right for you. I also recommend working with your dietitian to develop a meal plan that includes foods that you enjoy eating while maintaining your kidney health. Check out NIDDK’s website for more specifics about dietary adjustments that can help manage kidney disease.
How do you lower your creatine levels?
Good question. As you probably already know, creatinine is a waste product from the normal breakdown of muscles in your body. Your kidneys remove creatinine from your blood and health care providers use the amount of creatinine in your blood to estimate your GFR. As kidney disease gets worse, the level of creatinine goes up.
The best way to protect your kidneys is to adopt a healthy lifestyle, including
- Make healthy food choices such as fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products.
- Make physical activity part of your routine. Try to be active for 30 minutes or more on most days.
- Aim for a healthy weight. If you are overweight or obese, work with your health care provider or dietitian to create a realistic weight-loss plan.
- Get enough sleep. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Try to keep the same sleep and wake schedule every day.
- Stop smoking and limit alcohol intake.
- Explore stress-reducing activities, including physical activity, meditation, or yoga.
Check out NIDDK’s website for more specifics on managing kidney disease.
What questions share I ask when dealing with a tumor on the kidney. Is surgery the only option?
I’m so sorry to hear that you have a mass on your kidney. As you likely know, kidney tumors can be benign or malignant. Unfortunately, I cannot offer specific medical advice, but I do encourage you to visit the National Cancer Institute’s website to learn more about kidney cancer as you prepare for your next doctor’s appointment.
If I am diabetic, how much coffee would be too much coffee per day? I’m 170 pounds 5′ 10 and a ½.
What people with diabetes eat and drink directly affects their blood glucose levels. Many people start the day with a cup of coffee and for a person with diabetes, the impact of caffeine on insulin action may be associated with higher or lower blood glucose (sugar) levels. For some people with diabetes, about 200 milligrams of caffeine — or the equivalent of one to two 8-ounce cups of plain, brewed coffee — may cause this effect.
Caffeine affects every person differently. If you have diabetes and you’re having a hard time managing your blood glucose levels, limiting the amount of caffeine in your diet may provide a benefit, but you may want to talk about this with someone on your health care team. It’s also important to remember that adding sugar, creamers, and other flavorings that contain carbohydrates may also increase blood glucose levels.
What are the names of the tests I should be asking for to test kidney function?
A: Great question. To check for kidney disease, health care providers use a blood test, called GFR, and a urine test that checks for albumin. Albumin is a protein that can pass into the urine when the kidneys are damaged.
Other questions to help you talk to your health care provider about kidney disease are
- How often should I get my kidneys checked?
- What should I do to keep my kidneys healthy or manage my kidney health?
Is kidney disease hereditary? I lost both of my maternal grandparents to kidney failure.
I’m sorry to hear about your grandparents. A family history of kidney failure, as well as heart disease, increases your chances of developing kidney disease. The other main causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure.
With a family history of kidney failure, I encourage you to talk to your health care provider about your own risk of kidney disease. You can find three questions to start the conversation about kidney health with your health care provider on NIDDK’s website.
What’s the definition of moderation?
Great question. Moderation can mean different things for different people and depends on your age, weight, metabolism, whether you are male or female, how active you are, and other factors. However, there are guidelines that can give you general recommendations, such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020. I encourage you to talk with your health care provider about this topic.
My mother us on dialysis and has been for years now. She will be 78 in December. I want to give her one of my kidneys. What is the age limit for eligibility??
I encourage your mother to talk to her health care provider to find out if she is a good candidate for a kidney transplant. Since she is on dialysis, her dialysis team will also be part of the process. You can find more information about kidney transplants on NIDDK’s website.
What’s a good alternative to NSAIDS? have a lot of protein in my urine. My nephrologist and urologist say my kidney has been damaged by the naproxen I was taking for my back issues. People need to be aware of naproxen’s side effects.
You may want to ask your health care provider about other ways to treat pain, such as meditation or other relaxation techniques. You can read more about pain management at the NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health website
My father died from ESRD. He had hypertension & took high doses of Motrin. I am also hypertensive but it’s controlled. My calcium is usually about 10.5mg/ML. Should I be concerned about ESRD too?
Sorry to hear about your father. Kidney disease does tend to run in families, and African-Americans have a greater chance of developing kidney disease. Since early kidney disease usually doesn’t have symptoms, talk to your doctor about getting tested. Healthy lifestyle habits can also help protect your kidneys.
I’m a diabetic and my last test showed high creatine? What do I do?
While I cannot offer specific medical advice, I can tell you that the reference range for normal creatinine levels can vary by age, gender and laboratory. I recommend that you talk to your health care provider about getting checked for kidney disease and treatment options.
How can I tell if the frequent back pain on my lower right side is kidney problem or something else?
A: I’m sorry to hear you are in pain. I suggest making an appointment with your health care provider to evaluate the cause of your back pain. He or she can use a blood test and a urine test to check for kidney disease or may refer you for testing.
Are there any obvious signs to kidney damage and how does water affect it?
Early chronic kidney disease usually has no symptoms. For many people, the only way to know if you have kidney disease is to get your kidneys checked with blood and urine tests.
However, as kidney disease gets worse, a person may have swelling, called edema. Edema happens when the kidneys can’t get rid of extra fluid and salt.
Edema can occur in the legs, feet, or ankles, and less often in the hands or face. Other symptoms of advanced CKD include: chest pain, dry skin, feeling tired, increased or decreased urination, and more. Visit NIDDK’s website for a full list of symptoms.
Drinking enough water is important for your overall health, but your doctor may suggest limiting fluid intake if you have certain medical conditions. Generally – unless you have kidney failure – you should drink water liberally throughout the day. If you already know you have kidney failure, please do talk with your doctor and/or dietician to find out how much water you should drink to best manage your condition.
The doctor said 6 to 7 hours of sleep, but I wake up every hour to urinate, could that be a sign?
Great question, the need to urinate often can have a variety of causes. I encourage you to talk to your health care provider about this. You can also find more information about bladder control problems on NIDDK’s health information pages.
Does low-dose aspirin affect the kidneys?
Regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can damage your kidneys. Learn more about over-the-counter medicines and your kidneys.
What is the purpose of leaving the old kidneys in following a kidney transplant?
A: Our kidneys have a greater capacity to do their job than is needed to keep us healthy and can still function with damage. Unless your damaged kidneys cause infections or high blood pressure or are cancerous, they can stay in your body. Watch a video about kidney transplant.
Is it true you have to pay $10,000 for a kidney?
A: If you need a kidney transplant because of kidney failure, Medicare, the Federal Government health insurance program, will pay for transplant and care for 3 years after the transplant. Watch a video about Medicare and kidney transplant.
What about kidneys shifting to one side?
A: While I cannot give specific medical advice, I can tell you that some people have an ectopic kidney, which is a birth defect in which a kidney is located below, above, or on the opposite side of its usual position. About one in 900 people has an ectopic kidney. Learn more about this on NIDDK’s website.
I am following the keto diet (mostly low carb than staying in ketosis constantly). I check the ketones expelled from my urine regularly using ketone strips. Can a high level of ketones expelled long-term mean damage to the kidneys? I’m not diabetic, but take a blood pressure meds because of slightly elevated readings.
Nutrition, as well as physical activity, are some of the foundations for a healthy lifestyle. You want an eating plan that works for you and considers your eating preferences, dietary intake, and health goals. The challenge with “diets” in general is that they tend to be short-term because they are hard to stick to.
Some general tips include:
- Watch portion sizes.
- Choose foods that are lower in calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, and salt.
- Eat foods with more fiber, such as whole grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta.
- Choose foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, bread and cereals, and low-fat or skim milk and cheese.
- Drink water instead of juice and regular soda.
I encourage you to talk with your health care provider about your diet and goals.
Is there an age where problems first start?
There are many types of kidney disease, but your chances of chronic kidney disease increase with age. I know there’s a lot to talk about when you visit your health care provider, and you may feel uncomfortable asking but, if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or a family history of kidney failure, you should know about your kidney health. You can find three questions to start the conversation with your health care provider on NIDDK’s website.
I’m trying to get my body right for the summer… What are the kidney repercussions of drinking protein powder after my workouts?
A: Congratulations on focusing on your health just in time for the summer months! While I cannot give specific medical advice, I will say that any dietary advice should be given in the context of your medical history. I suggest talking with your health care provider about this – and/or consulting a registered dietician.
GRIFFIN P. RODGERS was named Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)—one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—on April 1, 2007. He had served as NIDDK’s Acting Director since March 2006 and had been the Institute’s Deputy Director since January 2001. As the Director of NIDDK, Dr. Rodgers provides scientific leadership and manages a staff of over 600 employees and a budget of $2.0 billion.
Dr. Rodgers received his undergraduate, graduate, and medical degrees from Brown University in Providence, R.I. He performed his residency and chief residency in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital and the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. His fellowship training in hematology was in a joint program of the NIH with George Washington University and the Washington Veterans Administration Medical Center. In addition to his medical and research training, he earned an MBA, with a focus on the business of medicine/science, from Johns Hopkins University in 2005.
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