Walking to Wellness
By Michelle Hampson
An abundance of lifestyle tips on the Internet can be overwhelming and often leave people confused about the best ways to manage their health. News headlines may tout a particular lifestyle practice one week, while denouncing it the next. But one thing has stayed consistent and clear throughout decades of research: exercise has many health benefits and is recommended for everyone, which is highlighted on The Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Wellness Hub. Study after study shows that exercise lowers blood pressure, helps control bood sugar, improves mood, controls weight, boosts energy, reduces pain, promotes sleep, and increases life expectancy. Many of its benefits are particularly helpful for improving the symptoms of chronic diseases, including kidney disease.
How can you incorporate walking into your routine?
Lowering Blood Pressure
Maintaining healthy blood pressure can help reduce the progression of kidney disease. Exercise is great for lowering blood pressure, and has even been found to improve kidney function in hypertensive people living with kidney disease.
Improving Mood
Exercise has been found to help decrease feelings of stress, anxiety and depression, and generally improve mood. Remarkably, these effects can be immediate after just one exercise session.
Maintaining Muscle Strength
People living with advanced kidney disease are particularly prone to muscle wasting, which exercise can help combat. In particular, exercises to strengthen and maintain muscles, such as resistance training, have been shown to counteract muscle wasting.
Supporting Good Cardiovascular Health
Living with kidney disease comes with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease as well. Exercise that increases the heart rate (aerobic exercise) can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in numerous ways, for example by lowering cholesterol levels and improving blood pressure.
Relieving Symptoms of Restless Legs
The sensations of restless leg syndrome can worsen when people rest and stay inactive for too long. Light to moderate exercise – like walking, massaging, stretching, swimming, and peddling on an exercise bike – can help relieve the symptoms.