Is it possible to improve kidney function

Kidney experts recommend that you drink enough water to make around 2 liters of urine per day. Dehydration concentrates your urine, which can cause damage. Exactly how much water you should drink is up for debate , and clinical studies are still investigating just how much water it would take to help your kidneys. They have shown that any benefit is only seen with plain water, not sweetened drinks.

There are other cases where you may need to limit how much water you drink. If you have severe kidney disease, your doctor may place you on a fluid restriction. This is because your kidneys are less effective at removing extra water from your body.

The extra fluid can lead to swelling and edema , and may need to be removed by other means, like hemodialysis. A number of medications can impair or cause damage to the kidneys. Your doctor can determine the best course of action in terms of stopping these medications or replacing them with a different kind of medication.

Kidney disease can develop slowly over time, but some symptoms may be a sign that something is wrong. These include:. Talk with your doctor about your risks for kidney disease, or any family history of kidney problems. Many times, people are diagnosed with kidney disease when routine lab work is done for another reason.

Your doctor may ask you to make some changes to support your kidney health. While few medications can help treat kidney disease, managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes can go a long way in extending the life of your kidneys.

To increase your GFR and your kidney function, talk with your doctor about changes you can make to your lifestyle and diet. The best thing you can do to protect your kidneys is to try to avoid damaging them in the first place.

Avoid medications that are toxic to your kidneys, eat well, stay hydrated, and keep your blood sugar and blood pressure in control. Kidney function tests are simple blood and urine tests that can help identify problems with your kidneys. The kidneys filter waste materials from the…. Creatinine is a blood chemical waste product made when you use muscles. Learn about home remedies to naturally lower your creatinine levels.

If you have kidney disease, reducing your potassium, phosphorus, and sodium intake can help manage it. Here are 17 foods that you should likely avoid…. Kidneys perform essential functions in your body, filtering waste and producing hormones.

Read more on how to maintain good kidney health. Kidney failure is a serious medical condition in which your kidneys can no longer effectively filter your blood. Urine Protein: When your kidneys are damaged, protein leaks into your urine. A simple test can be done to detect protein in your urine.

Persistent protein in the urine is an early sign of chronic kidney disease. Microalbuminuria: This is a sensitive test that can detect a small amount of protein in the urine.

Urine Creatinine: This test estimates the concentration of your urine and helps to give an accurate protein result. Protein-to-Creatinine Ratio: This estimates the amount of protein you excrete in your urine in a day and avoids the need to collect a hour sample of your urine. Serum Albumin: Albumin is a type of body protein made from the protein you eat each day.

A low level of albumin in your blood may be caused by not getting enough protein or calories from your diet. A low level of albumin may lead to health problems such as difficulty fighting off infections.

Ask your dietitian how to get the right amount of protein and calories from your diet. This measurement comes from lab studies that include a urine collection and blood work. Your dietitian may ask for an accurate food record to go with this test.

The dietitian will ask you some questions about your daily diet and check your weight and the fat and muscle stores in your face, hands, arms, shoulders and legs. Ask your dietitian about your score on the SGA.

If your score is too low, ask how to improve it. Hemoglobin: Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. Your hemoglobin level tells your doctor if you have anemia, which makes you feel tired and have little energy. If you have anemia, you may need treatment with iron supplements and a hormone called erythropoietin EPO.

The goal of anemia treatment is to reach and maintain a hemoglobin level of at least 11 to Hematocrit: Your hematocrit is a measure of the red blood cells your body is making. A low hematocrit can mean you have anemia and need treatment with iron and EPO.

You will feel less tired and have more energy when your hematocrit reaches at least 33 to 36 percent. Your TSAT should be above 20 percent and your serum ferritin should be above This will help you build red blood cells. Your doctor will recommend iron supplements when needed to reach your target levels.

This can cause bone disease. Ask your doctor if your PTH level is in the right range. Your doctor may order a special prescription form of vitamin D to help lower your PTH. Caution: Do not take over-the-counter vitamin D unless ordered by your doctor.

Calcium: Calcium is a mineral that is important for strong bones. Ask your doctor what your calcium level should be. To help balance the amount of calcium in your blood, your doctor may ask you to take calcium supplements and a special prescription form of vitamin D.

Take only the supplements and medications recommended by your doctor. However, a diet too low in protein can cause loss of muscle and make you frail. It is important to discuss your individual nutrition needs with your healthcare professional or dietitian to make sure you stay healthy and strong.

Many healthcare professionals recommend the Dash Diet. Being active is important to kidney health. Some studies show kidney function improves with exercise. It is important to keep a healthy body weight. Talk with your healthcare professional or dietitian if you need to lose weight. It is possible to slow the progression of kidney disease by taking good care of yourself by following a healthy diet and exercising.

However, for some people their kidney disease gets worse despite their best efforts at a healthy lifestyle. It is important to know the cause of your kidney disease.

For example, if you have diabetes , the most important thing you can do to protect your remaining kidney function is to keep your blood sugar under control.