Posted by Fatima Khalil
Thursday, 09 March 2023 08:00 AM
The kidneys are vital organs that play an important role in maintaining public health. They are responsible for filtering waste and excess fluid from the blood, regulating blood pressure, and producing hormones Necessary for bone health and red blood cell production. When the kidneys are not working properly, waste and fluids can build up in the body, leading to a variety of health problems.
People are generally well aware of the risks of high blood pressure and heart disease, but the majority think that kidney disease is something you only think regarding when you have a sore back or pain while urinating. Chronic kidney disease affects an estimated 10% of the world’s population.
What are the problems that cause kidney disease?
Chronic kidney disease is a progressive condition that occurs when the kidneys become damaged and cannot filter the blood properly. This can lead to a buildup of waste and fluids in the body, which can cause a range of health problems, including high blood pressure, anemia, bone disease, and cardiovascular disease. In severe cases, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to treat.
What are the factors that increase the risk?
Neglected kidney stones and frequent use of certain medications and toxins (such as pain relievers, certain antibiotics, x-rays, and CT scans) are other common risk factors.
People with these conditions must take extra care to maintain kidney health.
People with diabetes or high blood pressure should talk to their doctor regarding treating these conditions to keep their blood sugar and blood pressure under control and reduce their risk of kidney disease.
Another important step in maintaining kidney health is through lifestyle changes, including making healthy choices regarding what we eat and drink, getting regular exercise, and avoiding smoking.
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in salt and processed foods, and getting regular exercise can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure and other health problems that can lead to CKD.
How is chronic kidney disease diagnosed?
Regular medical check-ups can help in early detection of high blood pressure or diabetes, which can reduce your risk of chronic kidney disease.
People with a family history of kidney disease should also consider having regular kidney function tests.
What are the symptoms?
It is important to be aware of the symptoms of kidney disease. Early kidney disease may not have any warning signs; Symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, nausea, and swelling in the legs or ankles may often occur much later when one has advanced kidney damage. The only way to detect chronic kidney disease at an early stage is through specific blood and urine tests, i.e. creatinine blood measurement or kidney function tests (KFT) and routine urine examination.