The short answer: Chronic psychological stress can affect blood pressure, heart rate, sleep, blood sugar, and other systems that matter for kidney health. Stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline can temporarily change blood flow and blood pressure, including pressure within the kidney’s filtering units, called glomeruli. However, it would be misleading to say that … Read more
The short answer: Most people with stable stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) can exercise safely, and regular physical activity is generally encouraged. Exercise can improve cardiovascular fitness, help control blood pressure, support healthy weight, and improve physical function. The important correction is that exercise does not normally “overwork” the kidneys in the way a … Read more
The short answer: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) are biologically interesting antioxidants that participate in mitochondrial energy production and protection against oxidative stress. Because kidney cells have high energy demands, researchers have investigated whether these supplements might support kidney health. However, mitochondrial evidence is not the same as clinical proof. Most evidence for … Read more
The short answer: Sodium bicarbonate can help people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who develop metabolic acidosis, a condition in which the blood contains too much acid or too little bicarbonate. It works by providing bicarbonate, which helps neutralize excess acid. However, the claim that sodium bicarbonate definitively slows CKD progression is stronger than the … Read more
The short answer Astragalus root, also called Huang Qi, has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine for kidney-related conditions. Modern research has found some potentially beneficial effects, particularly on proteinuria, albuminuria, and serum creatinine in certain groups of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the evidence is not strong enough to … Read more