When your health is at its best, it improves your quality of life. Physical activity is essential for a healthy lifestyle. In the recent National Non communicable disease monitoring survey,(https://www.ncdirindia.org/nnms) 41% did not meet the WHO criteria of 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity in a week. The benefits of regular physical activity are profound
Benefits
- Improves muscle strength & functioning
Daily physical activity helps to strengthen the muscles in our body. Which ultimately improves our blood circulation – this reduces the risk of CKD. But conversely, less physical activity leads to muscle weakness.
- Controls blood pressure
High blood pressure harms the kidneys and creates severe heart, eye, and metabolism problems. But exercise helps control blood pressure and helps our body stay balanced, lowering the risk of permanent kidney damage.
- Controls blood fat level
Blood fats like cholesterol and triglycerides can cause many health issues. Fat deposits in blood arteries can result from high cholesterol. Blood flow through your arteries is hampered when these deposits increase, which results in heart attacks or strokes. However, daily exercise helps control blood fat. Keeping the blood fat in check helps maintain and regulate kidney functions. Also, it reduces the risk of other renal issues including infections and premature damage.
- Improve sleep cycle
The sleep-wake cycle controls kidney function. It helps balance the burden on the kidneys. Chronic health issues like heart disease, renal disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression are all connected to sleep deprivation. Daily physical activity helps to maintain a good sleep cycle.
- Control of body weight
Obesity causes diabetes, and high blood pressure, contributing to kidney disease. Overweight or obese persons are more prone to develop conditions that can harm their kidneys. Exercising helps to control body weight which lowers the risk of CKD.
- Types of exercise to follow:
Exercise improves several health parameters in CKD patients. However, It is crucial to understand that not all physical activity is for everyone. Therefore, it would be best to exercise according to your health condition. For example, avoiding isometric exercises like sit-ups and pushups is advised if someone suffers from heart disease. Similarly, vigorous physical activity can be harmful to CKD patients.
Therefore, like your diet, you should also plan your physical activity.
Here are some light exercises doctors usually suggest for CKD patients to maintain general health for normal people –
- Walking – The health benefits of walking make it a top recommendation for persons with CKD and those receiving dialysis since it can help prevent cardiovascular problems. The only requirements are a pair of comfy shoes and a dedication to good health.
- Bicycling – Cycling is fun for every age group, it is an exciting activity. The best part is one gets to set the pace while being active. Hence, it is an excellent exercise for those with renal disease.
- Aerobic – Compared to other workouts, aerobic activity with a single exercise session lasting more than 30 minutes significantly improved the estimated glomerular filtration rate. As a result, aerobic exercise can lower serum creatinine in people with CKD more effectively.
- Yoga – This form of physical activity can be your best choice if you have renal disease and are searching for other fitness alternatives. Yoga boosts your immune system and reduces stress, which is extremely helpful for CKD patients.
One must add physical activity to their everyday routine to practice a healthy lifestyle. Choose one that fits for you. Do you want to know more about kidney health and CKD? Click here to read our blogs.