Q: What are the lifestyle modifications for a patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Please enlighten us about the same. Will there be any change in the progression of this disease by changing our lifestyle?

A:CKD patients are at high risk of cardiovascular disease like heart attacks, heart failure. Therefore life style modifications to control all known risk factors for heart disease like smoking, high cholesterol and other lipids, diabetes, high blood pressure need to be controlled with life style modifications as follows: 1. Weight reduction: Maintain normal body weight (body mass index, 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2). 2. Adopt DASH eating plan: Consume a diet rich in vegetables and low fat dairy products with a reduced content of saturated and total fat 1. Proteins in diet 0.7 gms/kg (50 % good quality proteins). 3. Dietary sodium reduction: Reduce dietary sodium intake to < 100 mmol per day (2.4 g sodium or 6 g sodium chloride). 4. Physical activity: Engage in regular aerobic physical activity such as brisk walking (> 30 min/d, most days of the week). 5. Moderation of alcohol consumption: Limit consumption to no more than 2 drinks (1 or 30 mL ethanol; e.g., 24 ox beer, 10 z wine, or 3 oz 80-proof liquor) per day in most men and to no more than 1 drink per day in women and lighter-weight individuals. 6. Stop smoking if you do.