How to Take Care of Kidneys in Summer

It is becoming more and more apparent that global warming is not something that lurks somewhere in our future but is happening right here and right now. With temperatures reaching unbelievable highs every year, the heat and humidity are wreaking havoc on kidneys.

Even those with no health conditions need to protect themselves from the sun. But it becomes all the more essential when you already are dealing with a kidney ailment in the summer.

Thus, summer precautions for kidneys are important. It is vital you follow a routine and norms. You should wear loose, comfortable clothing, a hat, and sunglasses for added protection when moving outside.

Now, the question arises how to take care of kidneys?

Here’re a few tips if you are aiming to keep your kidneys healthy:

1. Consume at least 3.0 litres of liquids a day.
2. Avoid a non-vegetarian diet.
3. Do not intake painkillers.
4. Keep a mental note of your frequency of passing urine and that it is not very yellow. The Colour should be light yellow indicating adequate hydration.
5. Kids and veterans especially are at risk of dehydration and need extra care of liquid intake when moving out in the sun.
6. Avoid aggressive exercise in the direct sun as muscle injury happens and dehydration.

Kidney Disease Patients:

Staying hydrated in the summer months is important, but patients with kidney disease need to take care to avoid fluid overload. The best is to measure your urine volume and add 500ml for sweating, which should be your liquid intake. Speak with your doctor about how your fluid intake should be adjusted for summer.

Kidney Stone Disease:

Summer is often called the kidney stone season as our bodies get dehydrated quickly due to sweating, and the chances of dehydration are high. Dehydration is one of the common causes of kidney stones. Those consuming high protein intake like non-vegetarian food need more care in keeping adequate liquid intake to prevent stone disease.

What we eat in the summer is important too. Fast foods can increase the risk of kidney stones as they are high in salt, protein and sugar. Therefore, it is crucial to have a diet that reduces the chance of kidney stones.

An average adult should drink 2.5 to 3.0 litres of water a day. Carry a 1-litre bottle with you to sip from during the day to note how much water you are drinking.

Don’t hold urine:

Empty your bladder regularly. Holding urine in can cause it to get concentrated and trigger the development of kidney stones.

Blood Pressure:

Blood pressure, too, can go down; hence keep a check and adjust high BP medicines by consulting your doctor. If you take medicines that increase urine volume, called diuretics, your doctor may need to adjust the dose and check your blood chemistry.

So, watch your health all around the year, but small lifestyle changes can prevent kidney problems in the summers. Thus, for sound health take care of your kidneys in summer.
You can get regular check-ups and visit PSRI kidney hospital in Delhi and keep your kidneys healthy.