Day 6: Checking Your (Kidney) Fluids

If your car doesn’t properly filter fluids, it can lead to performance issues as well as damage throughout the vehicle. Your body is similar, especially when it comes to the kidneys—and we don’t want you to experience any breakdowns because you’re working them too hard.

The kidneys not only remove waste from the body but also help maintain the balance of water and minerals in your blood, make hormones that control blood pressure, create red blood cells and keep muscles, nerves and bones strong.

The problem is that many of us are speeding down the road with weak or aged organs and don’t even know it.

Studies show that one in seven American adults has chronic kidney disease, but 90% are unaware. That’s because kidney disease develops slowly and often has no symptoms, but it kills more people annually than breast or prostate cancer.

So, how can we avoid veering into this health ditch? We can’t change our genetics, but we can prevent other risk factors for kidney disease, such as high blood pressure, overuse of over-the-counter pain medication and diabetes—which is the most common cause and accounts for 44% of new kidney disease cases.

Of course, like with an older car, age is a factor when mapping your longevity journey.

While chronic kidney disease can happen at any time, it occurs most among people 60 and older. And according to one study, as many as 50% of people 75 and older have chronic kidney disease. However, the younger you are when you are diagnosed, the shorter your life expectancy.

The other problem is that once one “part” breaks down, so can other areas of the body. Kidney disease, for example, can lead to anemia, decreased sexual function, depression, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, memory or thinking problems, obesity and a weakened immune system.

And if you’re not getting regular checkups, including annual bloodwork, you might not see what’s just over the next hill. That’s why it’s also important to be on the lookout for signs something is wrong, such as blood in your urine, needing to urinate more often, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, headaches, itchy skin, lack of appetite, unexpected weight loss and swelling of the hands, feet and ankles.

While treatment can slow the progression of kidney disease, it’s better to do what you can to avoid the need for “repairs” for as long as possible—especially for women. Studies show that women are more likely to die of chronic kidney disease than men, and when there’s trouble with the body’s filtration system, women lose nearly four more years of life to the condition than men.

Superagers, however, tend to have “younger” kidneys, especially compared to their peers who have diabetes or high blood pressure. That may be because they control their blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, but they also maintain a healthy diet, exercise, get plenty of sleep, reduce stress, quit smoking, use alcohol in moderation and take their medications as prescribed.

So, if you want to “go with the flow” more like these superagers, we have the perfect longevity tips for you today!