A recent study from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta has found that regular exercise helps people with serious kidney issues.
It was shown that 12 weeks of structured aerobic exercise can help improve the function of blood vessels and control blood pressure in these patients.
This news is especially important for those with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition affecting millions in the U.S.
What Was the Study About?
The researchers at Emory University wanted to see if exercise could help people with CKD. They focused on a group of 48 people, primarily Black men, with this disease. These participants were divided into two groups:
- The first group did aerobic exercises using stationary bikes.
- The second group did non-aerobic exercises like stretching and balance activities.
The exercises started at 20 minutes each session and slowly increased to a maximum of 45 minutes.
Why Was This Study Important?
People with CKD often face health challenges when exercising. Their blood pressure can shoot up, which puts them at a higher risk of heart-related problems.
The Emory team believed that regular aerobic workouts could help these CKD patients.
They hoped the exercises would make their blood vessels work better and keep blood pressure in check during physical activity. And the results were positive – the study proved their theory right.
Justin Sprick, Ph.D., who led the study, explained the significance of their findings. He said that their results show exercise is safe and helpful for people with CKD.
Regular workouts could even lower their chances of getting heart diseases in the future, although more studies are needed to be sure of this.
This is a big deal because heart diseases are the top reason for death among those with CKD.
How Big Is the Problem of CKD?
Chronic kidney disease is a silent issue in America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shared some alarming facts:
- 37 million people in the country suffer from CKD.
- Most of them, nine out of 10 adults, don’t even realize they have this disease.
- Older adults, especially those above 65, are more likely to have CKD.
In conclusion, this study shines a light on the benefits of exercise, especially for those with CKD.
It suggests that a simple activity like cycling can improve the quality of life for millions of CKD patients. This discovery could pave the way for new treatment methods and give hope to many.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about how to protect your kidneys from diabetes, and drinking coffee could help reduce risk of kidney injury.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about foods that may prevent recurrence of kidney stones, and eating nuts linked to lower risk of chronic kidney disease and death.
The study was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
