Watch Out! These Everyday Habits May Be Sneakily Damaging Your Kidneys

5. Don't Light Up

You already know smoking is bad for your lungs and heart, but did you know it's also a silent killer for your kidneys? A 2000 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that chronic smokers—both current and former—are at a higher risk for kidney disease. Smoking creates creatinine, a substance that harms your kidneys.

The worst part? Kidney damage caused by smoking often shows no symptoms, meaning you could be damaging your kidneys without even realizing it. On a brighter note, former smokers tend to have less kidney damage than those still puffing away. It's never too late to quit, and your kidneys will appreciate it.