Most people would be devastated if they knew that something they were doing was damaging an essential organ like a kidney, but unfortunately, acute renal failure can be caused by making simple, everyday mistakes. Here are a few ways you might be unintentionally damaging your kidneys and how to stop before it is too late. 

Mistakes That Can Damage Kidneys

1. Salting Your Food

Salt tastes great when paired with the foods that you love, but unfortunately, overdoing it with the saltshaker could lead to acute renal failure. As a general rule of thumb, you shouldn’t be consuming more than 2,300 milligrams worth of salt in a day, so check those labels carefully. 

2. Not Staying Hydrated

Your kidneys play an essential role in eliminating toxins from your body, but they can’t do their job if you aren’t drinking enough water to flush out those particulates. Men should drink at least 15.5 cups of fluid per day to prevent acute renal failure, and women should consume at least 11.5 cups to stay adequately hydrated. Consider investing in a water bottle to keep with you at all times or set alarms on your phone to take sips of water throughout the day. 

3. Reaching for Painkillers Too Often 

Pain relievers such as aspirin, naproxen sodium, acetaminophen, Ketoprofen, and ibuprofen can be hard on your kidneys, so don’t reach for painkillers too frequently. If you find yourself struggling with chronic pain or recurrent headaches, talk with your doctor about finding a better solution. 

Proper kidney function is essential for life, so visit with the team at Mt Auburn Nephrology if you have any concerns about kidney health. Since their inception, they have been committed to helping people throughout the greater Cincinnati, Ohio, area with everything from managing electrolytes and coping with acute renal failure to resolving kidney stones and receiving kidney transplants. Find out more about how they can help by checking out their website or by calling (513) 841-0222.