Certain medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle habits can cause damage to your kidneys. Many of these habits are modifiable, and you can take steps to manage them.

Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood. When they become damaged, they cannot perform this function as effectively.

Over time, kidney damage can eventually lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure. An estimated 1 in 7 people in the United States has CKD.

There are several factors that can damage your kidneys. These include medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle habits.

A variety of medical conditions can cause damage to your kidneys. We’ll go over them, as well as how they can cause kidney damage.

Kidney problems

There are many medical conditions that affect the kidneys specifically. Over time, these can directly damage kidney tissue, leading to reduced kidney function. Some examples include:

Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition where your body cannot make insulin or cannot use insulin well, leading to increases in blood sugar. An estimated 1 in 3 adults with diabetes may have CKD.

High blood sugar damages blood vessels and filtering ability in the kidneys over time. Many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure, which also damages the kidneys.

Heart disease

Heart disease includes coronary artery disease, heart failure, and arrhythmia. These conditions affect your heart’s ability to effectively pump blood. When your kidneys don’t receive enough oxygen-rich blood, it can lead to damage.

Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks healthy tissue. When lupus impacts your kidneys, it can cause lupus nephritis. Up to 60% of people with lupus develop lupus nephritis.

The effects of your immune system attacking your kidneys can damage them and eventually lead to CKD or kidney failure.

Obesity

Obesity is a chronic condition where you have excess body fat. An estimated 41.9% of adults in the United States have obesity.

People with obesity often have other health conditions, called comorbidities, that boost the risk of kidney damage. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Several types of medications can be harmful to your kidneys. Mechanisms by which they can do this include:

  • damaging kidney tubules, the structures that remove wastes from your blood while returning needed substances
  • contributing to interstitial nephritis, an inflammation around the tubules
  • decreasing the filtration rate of your kidneys
  • making crystals that block the flow of urine

Examples of drugs that may lead to kidney damage include:

If you’re concerned about the effects a medication may have on your kidneys, speak with a doctor. Additionally, be sure to always take all medications as directed.

Certain lifestyle habits can also lead to kidney damage.

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Alcohol overuse

Alcohol can also promote dehydration and increase blood pressure, both of which can stress the kidneys. It can also lead to liver disease, which can affect the function of your kidneys as well.

Smoking

Smoking has a variety of negative impacts on overall health. It can directly damage the kidneys via oxidative stress. Smoking also boosts the risks of other conditions associated with kidney damage, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Eating processed foods

Foods like processed meats, sodas, and sweets are associated with health conditions that increase the risk of kidney disease, such as high blood pressure and obesity.

Researchers have found that people with the highest levels of processed food consumption have a 24% higher risk of CKD.

Eating a diet high in salt and sugar

Too much salt can increase blood pressure. The National Kidney Foundation notes that while sugar doesn’t damage the kidneys, too much sugar intake in people with diabetes can lead to high blood sugar that can damage the kidneys.

Eating too much protein

Too much protein can stress your kidneys as they work harder to clear the waste products of protein metabolism from the body. High protein intake is typically only detrimental in people with preexisting CKD.

Dehydration

Having severe dehydration can damage your kidneys. When you’re dehydrated, your urine becomes more concentrated, and you’re more likely to experience kidney stones or UTIs that can damage the kidneys.

Inactivity

It’s estimated that 1 in 3 adults doesn’t get enough exercise. Physical inactivity is linked to a higher risk of conditions that boost the risk of kidney disease, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

Some research has found that physical activity lowers the risk of kidney disease.

Most people can live a typical life with only one working kidney. However, you may be at an increased risk of high blood pressure and increased protein in your urine.

No. Once kidney damage has occurred, the damage cannot be reversed.

There are many factors that can lead to kidney damage. These can be divided up into medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle habits.

You can help keep your kidneys healthy by adopting lifestyle habits that promote kidney health. You can also take steps to manage health conditions that increase your risk of kidney disease, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.