Why kidney health matters
This year, World Kidney Day will be celebrated on March 13. This global awareness campaign highlights the significance of our kidneys and also aims to reduce our risk of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.
Some high-profile kidney transplants have raised awareness on the importance of kidney health. It’s been 10 years since pop princess Selena Gomez revealed her lupus diagnosis. Her kidneys failed a year later. In an Instagram post, Selena immortalized her actress friend Francia Raisa for donating her kidney in 2017.
Angelica Hale, then only nine, also swept the world off its feet when she became the youngest runner-up of America’s Got Talent in 2017. When she was four, she developed a serious bacterial pneumonia leading to septic shock and multi-organ failure. With her Filipino mother as a donor, she received a kidney transplant in Atlanta.
Angelica became the National Kidney Foundation’s first child ambassador. She has participated in several public appearances and contributed content for NKF’s social media. She is an advocate for public policy priorities in support of kidney disease prevention, early detection, treatment, research, and access to transplants.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a major public health issue in the Philippines. The Philippine Society of Nephrology (PSN) has launched campaigns on kidney health with the horrifying truth that one Filipino is diagnosed with chronic renal failure every hour. Such statistics indicate a strong need for the general population to focus on kidney health and appreciate the role CKD can play in overall health.
CKD mostly advances years or even decades without being diagnosed, with many people completely oblivious that they are at risk. Early-stage CKD is asymptomatic, so it is important for the public to get regular medical check-ups to diagnose the disease as early as possible before it progresses.
There are many identifiable risk factors for CKD. Certain medical conditions make a person especially prone to CKD: hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and a family history of kidney problems. Age is another risk factor, which makes it even more important for older adults to be aware of their kidney health.
To emphasize these points, Dr. Girlie Reoyan, the immediate past president of the PSN-Central Luzon chapter, stressed the importance of raising people’s awareness about kidney health. The PSN aims to fill the gap in awareness and treatment by ensuring communities know the significance of maintaining kidney health.
Dr. Ginger Samonte, the immediate past president of PSN, reminded the public about PSN’s ongoing campaign #StopCKD, a self-awareness test done online to gauge people’s risk for kidney disease. She urged all Filipinos to take a test to identify their potential risk of developing CKD. The questionnaire is available at https://take.quiz-maker.com/QGBHS68XB.
On the other hand, Dr. Vimar A. Luz, a PSN Board of Trustees member and head of cluster of Patient Care, said it is possible for Filipinos to avoid CKD by practicing some golden rules on how to keep their kidneys healthy. Dr. Luz points out that even just a simple lifestyle choice can help save our kidneys.
Nutrition and a well-balanced diet contribute to enhanced kidney functions. A diet consisting of diverse fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains should be favored while limiting added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats. Dietary decisions may offer protective effects on kidney damage.
A golden rule that cannot be repeated enough is regular physical activity. Exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, which is directly associated with a lower risk of diabetes and hypertension, both of which are leading causes of CKD.
Staying hydrated is also given quite a big emphasis to balance your kidneys and detoxify your body as well. And avoiding harmful habits such as smoking and the responsible use of OTC medications can have a significant impact on kidney health. Smoking has been associated with detrimental impacts on every aspect of health, including kidney function. Likewise, overuse of pain meds can cause acute renal failure, which can become chronic with continued use.
Regular check-ups are still a cornerstone of effective management of CKD. The process of screening enables identification of risk factors in the early stages, allowing for early intervention and reducing the possibility of CKD progression. Keeping an open conversation with a healthcare professional can be beneficial, as it helps individuals understand their health and rectify if required.
Along with these personal efforts, the government and community support are interwoven in the fight against CKD prevalence. This includes access to healthcare services and education campaigns that promote preventive measures, which, when implemented, could help address the lifestyle-related risk factors associated with CKD among the Filipino population. The fight against this growing health crisis must include a focus on kidney health, recognition of risk factors, adoption of preventative lifestyle changes, and equitable access to health care.
Currently, though CKD has no complete cure, definite preventive education and lifestyle intervention programs can dramatically reduce risks and improve the life quality of affected subjects. World Kidney Day is a reminder not only of the importance of kidney health but our shared responsibility to promote health within our communities.
