How to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy

rediffGURU Dr Vinod Kumar, a kidney specialist at Aster RV Hospital, Bengaluru, offers advice on how to take care of these vital organs.

• You can post your questions for rediffGURU Dr Vinod Kumar HERE.

Are you worried about the health of your kidneys?

Do you frequently wake up in the middle of the night to urinate?

What are the warning signs that you have a kidney infection?

How much of creatinine is safe for your kidneys?

Will drinking water help you flush out kidney stones?

rediffGURU Dr Vinod Kumar is a kidney health specialist who has performed more than 500 kidney transplants, including robotic and high-risk surgeries.

His expertise includes critical care nephrology, paediatric nephrology and kidney transplantation.

• You can post your questions for rediffGURU Dr Vinod Kumar HERE.
  
  

Ashok: What steps should a normal person take to have healthy kidneys?

1. Water intake of 2.5 to 3 litres is important.
2. Control risk factors like sugar and blood pressure.
3. Avoid painkillers and alternative medicines.
4. Reduce the intake of red meat and processed foods.
5. Regular exercise is a must.
6. Quit smoking.
7. Go for periodic health checkups.
   
   

Ananthasivan: What are the warning symptoms that you have a kidney problem?

Swelling of the legs, foamy urination, frequent urination at night, dryness of skin, decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting are some of the warning signs of a kidney infection.

Devinder: In ultrasound it was diagnosed that I have a 4mm stone in my kidneys. How to treat that?

• Take plenty of oral fluids.
• Reduce the intake of protein, especially non-vegetarian food
• Reduce your salt intake.
• If symptomatic, get a CT KUB scan.
  
  

Raju: I am 44 years old. I am having a creatinine issue. My creatinine is 7.5. Can it be reversed? Please help me.

It depends.

If it is an acute kidney injury, it may be reversible.

If it's a chronic kidney disease, there may be no specific curative treatment. You might need dialysis or transplantation in the future.

• You can post your questions for rediffGURU Dr Vinod Kumar HERE.

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