4. Quit Smoking
Cigarette smoking is responsible for nearly half a million deaths in the United States every year. Smoking not only harms your lungs and heart, but it can also accelerate your kidney disease as well.
Cigarettes contain over 7,000 chemicals, and many of them remain unstudied due to pressure from tobacco lobbyists. These chemicals enter your bloodstream through absorption in the lungs, and your kidneys are responsible for clearing this toxic load.
Trying to eliminate 7,000 toxins from the blood is a strenuous task, and as a result, you may increase the pace of your kidney disease. Since your kidneys are already in a vulnerable state, these toxins can cause an infection.
If you smoke tobacco products and have a CKD diagnosis, speak to your doctor for advice on smoking cessation. Your physician may prescribe additional drugs to help you stop smoking, or provide you with details to an effective cessation program.