March is National Kidney Month, and we at Bankers Fidelity want to raise awareness about how kidney failure can occur. In many cases, it’s possible to find yourself facing kidney failure because of a few common habits that are actually pretty harmful to your kidneys.
Here are a few of the most surprising factors that can lead to kidney disease:
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High Blood Pressure: Many adults have developed at least one bad habit over time that can lead to high blood pressure, which, in turn, can be a primary cause of kidney disease. High blood pressure can be caused by a multitude of problems, including — but not limited to — eating an unhealthy diet high in fat, sugar, and salt; smoking; not exercising enough; and dealing with high levels of stress for a prolonged period of time.
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Taking Too Many Anti-inflammatory Drugs: These include common over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil) or naproxen (e.g., Aleve). Certain antibiotics have also been known to cause kidney failure (e.g., Garamycin, tobramycin). Lithium is another possible cause. Many of these drugs will only lead to kidney failure if large doses are taken for an extended period of time.
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Holding Urination: Not only does this increase the risk of a urinary tract infection, but it can lead to kidney disease, too. You aren’t likely to experience kidney failure just because you had to “hold it in” during a long bus trip or during a meeting. However, you could have a problem if this happens consistently. The body eliminates toxins through urine. When those toxins aren’t released, they can build up over time and lead to kidney failure.
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Drinking Too Much Alcohol: In this case, “too long” means years — decades, even — and “too much” means entering the state of alcoholism. Liver damage is something that many alcoholics face as the years pass on. Even though alcohol won’t directly affect your kidneys, it could cause damage to your liver; when the liver is scarred or damaged, the risk of kidney failure increases as well.
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Not Getting Kidney Stones Out: Most kidney stones will come out eventually and you’ll only be left with the memories of the debilitating pain. However, kidney stones can become lodged if they are too big and are not removed by a medical professional; these could possibly lead to kidney failure. This is why it’s always important to see your doctor if another one appears even if you’ve had kidney stones before.
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Other Chronic Diseases: There are a few other chronic diseases that are known to increase the risk of kidney failure. Lupus, for example, is an autoimmune disease which causes inflammation in many organs of the body. Although it’s not a guarantee that lupus will lead to kidney failure, there is an increased risk. Certain chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer may also be a factor in kidney failure.
Here at Bankers Fidelity, we believe that it’s important to raise awareness about kidney disease, especially because March is National Kidney Month! We believe it’s our job to go beyond offering short-term care insurance to our loyal customers; we want to provide you with the resources you need to live a long and healthy life. We invite you to join us this month to help raise awareness about kidney disease: share your story on social media, leave a comment with some of your own interesting facts, or pass this onto a friend or family member!
