Food choices can affect kidney health. Avoid processed foods and choose fresh fruits and vegetables instead. Salt should be limited especially if you have high blood pressure, protein in your urine, or swelling or difficulty breathing. Eating less than mg a day of sodium is recommended. Another important nutrient to limit if you have moderate-to-advanced kidney disease not on dialysis is protein.
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. 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. Phosphorus: A high phosphorus level can lead to weak bones. Ask your doctor what your phosphorus level should be.
If your level is too high, your doctor may ask you to reduce your intake of foods that are high in phosphorus and take a type of medication called a phosphate binder with your meals and snacks. Potassium: Potassium is a mineral in your blood that helps your heart and muscles work properly. A potassium level that is too high or too low may weaken muscles and change your heartbeat.
Whether you need to change the amount of high- potassium foods in your diet depends on your stage of kidney disease. Ask your doctor what your potassium level should be. Your dietitian can help you plan your diet to get the right amount of potassium. Body Weight: Maintaining a healthy weight is important to your overall health. If you are losing weight without even trying, you may not be getting the right nutrition to stay healthy. Your dietitian can suggest how to safely add extra calories to your diet if needed.
On the other hand, if you are slowly gaining too much weight, you may need to reduce calories and increase your activity level. A sudden weight gain can also be a problem. If it is accompanied by swelling, shortness of breath and a rise in blood pressure, it may be a sign of too much fluid in your body.
Speak to your doctor if your weight changes noticeably. Blood Pressure: Ask your doctor what your blood pressure should be. If your blood pressure is high, make sure to follow all the steps in your prescribed treatment, which may include taking high blood pressure medications, cutting down on the amount of salt in your diet, losing excess weight and following a regular exercise program. Total Cholesterol: Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in your blood.
A high cholesterol level may increase your chance of having heart and circulation problems. For many patients, a good level for total cholesterol is below If your cholesterol level is too high, your doctor may ask you to make some changes in your diet and increase your activity level.
In some cases, medications are also used. For many patients, the target level for HDL cholesterol is above A high LDL level may increase your chance of having heart and circulation problems.
For many patients, the target level for LDL cholesterol is below A GFR test is used to help diagnose kidney disease at an early stage, when it is most treatable. GFR may also be used to monitor people with chronic kidney disease CKD or other conditions that cause kidney damage. These include diabetes and high blood pressure. But you may need a GFR test if you are at higher risk of getting kidney disease. Risk factors include:.
Later stage kidney disease does cause symptoms. So you may need a GFR test if you have any of the following symptoms:. A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial.
You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes. You may need to fast not eat or drink or avoid certain foods for several hours before the test. Your health care provider will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow. There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
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