In honor of National Kidney Month, I wanted to take time to stress the importance of staying hydrated. This not only goes for our patients, but also ourselves. We have dedicated our lives to treating others and recommending ways for our patients to treat their bodies well. Often times, we forget about ourselves and what we need to keep our bodies healthy—especially our kidneys!
With the hustle and bustle of medical school and residency, it’s easy to forget to drink enough water. I have forgotten more times than I would like to admit, but I strive to do better.
One way I help keep myself accountable, whether I am at the hospital, clinic, or even at home, is by carrying a water bottle with the ounces labeled with me throughout my day. I set a water consumption goal for myself for each part of my day: morning, afternoon, and evenings.
The recommended amount of water consumption for the average person is about 64 ounces, or 8 cups, of water per day; however, this number may vary by person and other factors.
Why is this important? We typically find that many of our patients admitted presenting with AKIs of varying degrees are more likely prerenal secondary to poor oral intake. Over time, as we know, chronic AKI can lead to serious damage to our kidneys.
This is a point to keep in mind as health professionals, as we tend to forget to care for ourselves due to our busy schedules. However, making small changes like consuming enough water in a day can have a huge impact on our overall health.
Read more by Niki,
or learn more about Acute Kidney Injury.
