You know your HIV viral load but do you know how to look after your kidneys?
No matter what stage in the HIV journey you are, you can find information here about how to monitor and maintain healthy kidneys.
Read below to find out more about:
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30% of people living with HIV show signs that their kidneys are not working normally – this is higher than the general population, but this is not just as a result of the virus. Age, lifestyle, family history, medications and having other infections or chronic diseases may all affect kidney health.
The good news is that people with HIV will have their kidneys regularly monitored, so even the earliest stages of kidney disease can be detected.
Talk to your healthcare team about:
The kidneys play a major role in health and wellbeing; they clear out waste from the body, maintain the fluid balance, regulate blood pressure and balance the levels of salt/minerals in the blood. If the kidneys stop working as well as they should they won’t carry out these roles correctly, which over time can cause serious health issues.
Regardless of HIV status, most bodily functions deteriorate gradually over a lifetime and the kidneys are no exception.
Kidney disease is more common in people living with HIV, but this is not just as a result of the virus. Age, lifestyle, family history, medications and having other infections or chronic diseases all affect kidney health.
The good news is that an undetectable HIV viral load will help reduce the risk of kidney disease and your healthcare team will regularly monitor how well your kidneys are working. Simple lifestyle changes can also help ensure your kidneys are well looked after as you get older.
You may be at an increased risk if:
Talk to your healthcare team about what lifestyle choices you can make to look after your kidneys and for your routine test results.
Kidney disease in those living with HIV can be well-managed and you may be referred to see a kidney specialist for additional advice. Treatment options can vary considerably, depending on the cause (or causes) of a person’s kidney disease and any other health issues.
Some treatment possibilities include:
Talk to your healthcare team about what changes you can make and if you have any concerns about how your medicines might be affecting the health of your kidneys.
Talk to your healthcare team about what changes you can make and if you have any concerns about how your medicines might be affecting the health of your kidneys.
Recreational drugs can weaken healthy kidneys
Some recreational drugs are processed in the kidneys, which can impact how well they work. Some prescription medicines, including HIV medicines, and over the counter medicines can also have the same impact.
Some recreational drugs are processed in the kidneys, which can impact how well they work. Some prescription medicines, including HIV medicines, and over the counter medicines can also have the same impact.
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