Renal disease, also called kidney disease, is a general term describing any ailment that significantly impacts the normal function of your kidneys. Common renal disorders include acute or chronic kidney failure, renal papillary necrosis, kidney cancer and end-stage renal disease. If you have kidney disease, you can help maintain your health with a well-planned exercise program.
Basics
Kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry's Lab Tests Online. Different forms of the disease can affect your body in a variety of ways. For example, if you have a kidney obstruction, the buildup of urine in your body can lead to physical injury of your kidney and infection. If the normal filtering functions of your kidneys are degraded, you can develop tissue swelling and build up toxins in your bloodstream. Individuals with kidney disease often have other significant health concerns, including hypertension, diabetes and hardening of the arteries.
Exercise Benefits
In the past, doctors thought that individuals with significant kidney disease should not participate in strenuous physical activity, according to the National Kidney Foundation. However, they now understand that exercise can provide a number of benefits to kidney patients, including improved muscle strength and function, increases in energy levels, lower levels of harmful cholesterol and triglycerides, improved sleep and improved ability to control body weight. Exercise will also help improve your mobility and your ability to easily perform daily chores and tasks.
Before Exercising
Before beginning an exercise program, you will need to consult your doctor, the National Kidney Foundation advises. With his help, you can develop a program that improves your health while safeguarding you from unwanted potential repercussions. Specific factors that go into formulating this type of program include determining the types of exercise that work best for you, how hard you will need to work during exercise, how long you will need to exercise and how often you will need to exercise to gain some health benefit.
Suitable Exercises
The National Kidney Foundation lists potentially suitable exercises for an individual with kidney disease that include low-intensity strength training exercises and continuous aerobic activities such as bicycling, walking, aerobic dancing and swimming. Typically, you will need to perform some of these exercises at least three non-consecutive days a week. Set a long-term goal to exercise for 30 minutes at a time, but take your level of fitness into account and work within your current safe limits. Start your workout sessions slowly and don't exercise so intensely that you overexert yourself. If you can hold a conversation during your activities and feel normal an hour after working out, you are probably exercising within your capacity.
Considerations
If you have chronic kidney disease, you will need to get adequate rest, Davita.com notes. Still, this doesn't mean you shouldn't participate in an appropriate exercise program. Also, if your doctor has established a specific diet for the treatment of your condition, getting extra exercise does not constitute permission to increase or alter your food intake. In some cases, you may need to increase your intake of fluids after exercising. However, check with your doctor or nutritionist first.
