5 everyday habits that quietly damage your kidneys

             Written by: Ehsan Siddiqui

28 October 2025

Your kidneys work hard every day to filter waste and keep your body healthy, but some common habits can slowly harm them over time. Here are some of the habits you should stay away from.

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Consuming a lot of salt makes your kidneys work harder to eliminate extra sodium and control blood pressure. This may raise the chance of kidney damage over time. 

High Salt Intake

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Hydration aids in the removal of toxins and guards against infections and kidney stones. Inadequate water intake in the morning lowers renal filtration efficiency. Aim for 2.5-3 liters every day.

Not Drinking Enough Water

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Taking over-the-counter medications too often can hurt the tiny filters that clean your blood and make it harder for blood to get to your kidneys.

Excessive Use Of Painkillers

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Habitually delaying urination can raise your risk of urinary tract infections and kidney pressure. Promptly reacting to your body's signals helps safeguard kidney health and avoid issues. 

Delaying Urination

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Tobacco and excessive alcohol can damage your kidneys by exposing them to toxins, narrowing blood vessels, and speeding up the damage to the filtering units.

Smoking & Drinking

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