Hi, thank you for your question. Yes, hypertension can cause kidney disease. Like all other organs in your body, the kidneys need oxygen and nutrients to function well. Uncontrolled hypertension can cause blood vessels around your kidneys to weaken, harden or narrow. When these blood vessels are damaged, they fail to deliver sufficient oxygen and nutrients to your kidneys and in turn leads to kidney damage.

Kidney disease can be prevented if you keep hypertension under control. Get your blood pressure checked regularly and if you do have hypertension, follow your doctor’s advice and take your medications as prescribed. Other methods of preventing hypertension or keeping your hypertension under control are listed here.

First of all, eat a healthy diet. Follow a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, lean meat, fish and low-fat dairy products. Eat a low-salt diet. Reduce intake of food high in trans fat and saturated fat. Examples of these include full-fat dairy product, red meat, bakery products, margerine and deep-fried food.

You should also exercise regularly. Exercise for at least 30 minutes 5 times/week or do vigorous aerobic exercises 20 minutes 3 times/week. Some examples of moderate-intensity exercises are brisk walking and cycling. Maintaining a healthy weight is important as well. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing hypertension and its complications. Try to keep your BMI <25 and waist circumference <40 inches (for men) or <35 inches (for women).

Next, quit smoking. Tobacco damages blood vessels and speed up formation of plaques. There are many ways to help you quit, such as taking up a hobby or using nicotine patches. Besides, you should limit your alcohol consumption to 2 drinks/day (for men) or 1 drink/day (for women). Lastly, learn to manage stress levels using techniques like meditation.

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