Drinking enough water is among the best things you can do for kidney health, but how much are you expected to drink each day?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The guideline of 'eight glasses of water daily' has become less prescriptive in recent years, but only to take more factors into account like gender and pregnancy.
In the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, there is a higher incidence of chronic kidney disease than the national average, and renal stream manager Kelly-Anne Marchioni said up to one in three adults were at risk of developing the disease.
"A person can lose up to 90 per cent of their kidney function without experiencing any symptoms," she said.
"Early detection ensures better outcomes and can slow the progression of the disease through lifestyle changes and medication management."
Risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, and a history of stroke or kidney injury, with an annual kidney check at the GP recommended.
There is an online test to help people understand their risk factors at : https://kidney.org.au/kidneyrisktest/.
For good kidney health, MLHD recommends:
- Keep fit and healthy
- Eat healthy food to ensure good nutrition and good control of your blood sugar levels
- Monitor your blood pressure
- Keep your weight in check
- Maintain a healthy water intake
- Do not smoke
- Ask your doctor to check your kidneys if you have diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), you are overweight or have a family history of kidney disease
