The importance of a healthy kidney is heavily understated. And as such, there are many things that people do or factors that people leave unconsidered that they should focus on. These factors can become a huge problem and lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). These factors can be personal (which can be controlled), or they can be environmental (which can be controlled to a limited extent or not controlled at all). It is essential that you are aware of these factors, even if some can’t be controlled. And with the awareness of these factors, you will be motivated to visit a kidney specialist to make sure that your kidney is in the best shape possible and what you can do to keep it that way.

Let’s take a look at these factors.

1. Exposure to Heavy Metals
   Heavy metal exposure can be very harmful to not just kidney health but the overall health of your body. There are some heavy metals that you should be especially careful of:
   Mercury
   It is well-known that mercury poisoning can have a severe effect on the body as a whole, especially on the kidneys. There are many kinds of seafood out there that, if you consume too much, can lead to poisoning. But there are also various industrial environments, such as factories and manufacturing plants of batteries, bulbs, and more, where exposure to mercury is very easy to encounter. So, you should be careful in those environments and keep yourself as protected as possible.
   Lead
   Lead can be found in many places, such as paints, batteries, construction materials, and more. In fact, lead poisoning due to paint was so common at one time that there have been numerous controversies over it. The negative effects of lead are so severe on your kidneys that there is a special name for a kidney disease that can occur from lead poisoning called ‘lead neuropathy.’ There are also several cases where there has been too much lead in the water coming from a reservoir or dam, and that has been harmful to people, leading to negative effects on their health in the long term. While lead exposure has become very uncommon because of improved safety standards, there is still a chance that you could have at least some exposure to lead.
   Uranium
   When people hear about Uranium, they think ‘radioactive.’ And they would be right to think that. This radioactivity can cause a lot of health problems. And Uranium isn’t just found in or near a nuclear reactor or a lab. It is found in different kinds of soil, plants, and even water. It affects your kidney by increasing the levels of protein and calcium in the bloodstream, which can build up and lead to kidney stones and, in certain cases, kidney failure.
   Cadmium
   Cadmium is a metal that, even in trace amounts, can lead to the development of kidney problems and even cancer of the kidney, bladder, and prostate. And if you are wondering how you would be exposed to Cadmium, then it can be found in certain seafood such as shellfish.
   Arsenic
   Arsenic is well known to be incredibly toxic in even microscopic amounts. It is found mainly in groundwater, pesticides, and certain types of wood that, when burned, the inhalation of its smoke can lead to Arsenic poisoning.
   Smoking
   Though smoking is mainly known for causing lung problems, it also has a history of causing kidney disease. The way tobacco is burnt, the smoke can heavily affect your kidneys and lead to the risk of kidney or bladder cancer.
   Aristolochic Acid
   Aristolochic acid is pretty uncommon, but it is pretty toxic to humans. It has been heavily linked to chronic kidney disease. In fact, there have been CKD epidemics that kidney doctors found that started because of this chemical. There are certain herbs that contain this acid that can be found in places all around the world.
   Conclusion
   Your kidney is just as important as any other organ in your body, and it should be treated with care. There are some factors that you can avoid, and even those factors that can’t be controlled, you can try to get away from or be careful about. And if you already suffer from kidney disease due to these factors, then we are the best kidney doctors around that can help you out. Dr, Fowad is here for all your kidney-related help and guidance. Book your appointment today!