Relying too heavily on anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen for pain relief could negatively affect kidney health, warn experts.
Kidney Care UK and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) have urged consumers to be cautious about frequently using NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), particularly those at higher risk of kidney disease, such as individuals with diabetes or high blood pressure.
Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, said: “Medicines have the power to harm as well as to heal.
“Although NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, are effective and safe medicines, patients should be aware of their impact – particularly if a patient is at increased risk of developing kidney disease – and consider alternative medication where appropriate.
“If a patient has concerns about their usage of NSAIDs, they should speak to their pharmacist who can advise them.
“Pharmacists are experts in medicines and are best placed to offer advice to people who may be concerned about any potential long-term effect of some medicines and can help patients effectively manage pain.”
People often don’t think about what might impact their kidney health, so we spoke to Fiona Loud, policy director at Kidney Care UK, who explained what crucial roles our kidneys play and outlined eight easy ways to keep them healthy and happy.
Why is it important to look after our kidneys?
“We have two kidneys in our body, one on either side towards our back, and they are vital organs,” says Loud. “They help regulate our blood pressure, keep our bones healthy, filter our blood and help get rid of the toxins, and are an important part of our excretion system.”
They also work very closely with the heart.
“Keeping your blood pressure healthy keeps your kidneys healthy,” says Loud. “If your kidneys are not working so well, the heart has to pump harder and that places significant strain on the cardiovascular system.”
Here are eight simple ways to keep your kidneys happy and healthy…
1. Stay hydrated
“Staying hydrated helps your kidneys filter out those toxins through your body and get rid of waste,” says Loud. “Try to aim for six to eight glasses of water a day.”
2. Eat a healthy diet
“Eating lots of fruit and vegetables helps keep your blood pressure and cholesterol healthy – and if you’re looking after your heart, you’re looking after your kidneys,” says Loud. “Eating your five-a-day is great, and even doing small things like adding fruit to cereal and using frozen vegetables, can all add up.
“Try to avoid ultra-processed foods, or only have them as an occasional treat.”
3. Check your blood pressure
“You can get your blood pressure checked very easily at a pharmacy, as many pharmacies have blood pressure machines,” says Loud.
4. Reduce your salt intake
“Try to reduce your salt intake as too much can have a negative impact on your blood pressure and could increase your risk of kidney stones,” says Loud. “I would recommend replacing salt with herbs, lemon or garlic for extra flavour.”
5. Stay active
Staying active is crucial for maintaining kidney health by helping to manage risk factors associated with kidney disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
“Aiming for around 150 minutes of exercise a week is a really good thing to do to keep your kidneys healthy, as it helps get all the blood pumping around your body,” says Loud. “You don’t have to run marathons – you could just do some yoga or go out walking.”
6. Regular kidney check-ups
“High blood pressure and diabetes are the two biggest risks for chronic kidney disease, so if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, having regular kidney checks is incredibly important,” says Loud.
7. Give up smoking
Smokers are four times more likely than non-smokers to develop kidney failure, according to Kidney Care UK.
“Smoking can cause the build-up of fatty deposits in your blood vessels which means that your heart has to work harder to pump the blood around your body, which raises your blood pressure,” explains Loud. “In addition, smoking can also increase your risk of kidney cancer.”
8. Check your risk online
“Our online kidney health checker is a quick and easy way to learn about your kidney health and to check your risk of kidney disease,” says Loud. “Depending on what the health check results say, you may be given a recommendation to go and talk to your GP about this.”
Visit the online Kidney Health Checker to learn more about your kidney health.