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Get Active to Slow Kidney Disease

03
Jan

 

exercise

Increased physical activity may slow kidney function decline in patients with kidney disease, according to a study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The study suggest that exercise may be the key to maintaining patients’ health.

After following patients for an average of 3.7 years, researchers observed that exercise was inversely associated to kidney function decline. Each 60-minute increment in weekly physical activity was linked with a 0.5% slower decline per year in kidney function.

“This study demonstrated that even small amounts of physical activity, such as walking 60 minutes per week, might slow the rate of kidney disease progression” said Dr. Cassianne Robinson-Cohen of Kidney Research Institute, University of Washington. “Physical inactivity is emerging as one of the few risk factors for kidney disease progression that is amenable to intervention.”

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects about 60 million people globally. The condition increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, disability and death. While few ways have been identified to slow the progression of CKD, scientists have recently found that exercise can help preserve kidney function.

Learn more about the study.