Managing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Key Information:

• You Have Control: The most important thing to know is that you are in the driver’s seat. There are powerful steps you can take to protect your kidneys for the long term.
• Blood Pressure: Think of your kidney’s filters like a delicate sprinkler system. If the water pressure (blood pressure) is too high for too long, it causes damage. Keeping your blood pressure controlled gives your kidneys a gentler flow to work with.
• Diabetes: If you have diabetes, managing your blood sugar is crucial. Like high blood pressure, high sugar levels can damage the delicate filters.
• Lifestyle Choices:
  • Painkillers: Be very cautious with anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen or naproxen. If you need them for more than a few days, discuss it with us first, as they can be harmful to kidneys.
  • Smoking: Smoking damages blood vessels everywhere, including your kidneys. Stopping is the single best lifestyle change you can make.