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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffTo reduce your risk of chronic kidney failure, try to:
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Drink no more than one alcoholic drink a day if you're a woman. If you're a man, limit yourself to two alcoholic drinks a day.
- Follow instructions on over-the-counter medications. When using nonprescription pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), follow the instructions on the packaging. Taking too many pain relievers could lead to kidney damage. If you have a history of kidney problems, ask your doctor whether these drugs are safe for you.
- Maintain a healthy weight. If your current weight is healthy, work to maintain it by exercising most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, talk to your doctor about strategies for healthy weight loss. Often this involves increasing the amount of exercise you get each day and decreasing the number of calories you eat.
- Don't smoke. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you're a smoker, talk to your doctor about quitting. Support groups, counseling and medications can all help you to stop.
- Manage your medical conditions with your doctor's help. If you have diseases or conditions that increase your risk of kidney failure, work with your doctor to control these. Ask your doctor about tests to look for signs of kidney damage.
References
- Mitch WE. Chronic kidney disease. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/192064788-4/0/1492/0.html. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- Ferri FF. Renal failure, chronic. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/192064788-4/0/2088/0.html. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- Wolfson AB. Renal failure. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..X0001-1--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&uniq=193452254. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- Kraut JA. Chronic renal failure. In: Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..C2009-0-38983-7--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-6642-2&uniq=192064788. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- About chronic kidney disease: A guide for patients and their families. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozcopy.cfm?pdflink=11-50-0160_JAI_PatBro_AboutCKDv2lr.pdf. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Coping effectively: A guide for patients and their families. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozcopy.cfm?pdflink=coping.pdf. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Kidney failure: Choosing a treatment that's right for you. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/choosingtreatment/index.htm. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- Chronic kidney disease stage 5 nutrition therapy for people not on dialysis. ADA Nutrition Care Manual. http://nutritioncaremanual.org/vault/editor/Docs/ChronicKidneyDiseaseNutritionTherapyNo%20Dialysis_FINAL.pdf. Accessed April 6, 2010.
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