Kidney health or kidney shot?

The first week of September in South Africa, the South African Health Department highlights the importance of our kidneys. Approximately 1 out of every 10 South Africans are living with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), knowing more about your kidneys and how to keep them healthy is paramount.

Our kidneys have multiple functions including:

1.      Filter and excrete waste products from digestion

2.      Remove drugs from the body

3.      Fluid balance

4.      Electrolyte balance

5.      Aid in hormonal control of your blood-pressure

6.      Control the production of red blood cells

7.      Aid in bone health

Kidney disease can be classified into acute and chronic. Acute injury or disease results from incidences such as hypothermia, car accidents, spontaneous obstruction, or toxic drug exposure. These are injuries that (usually) clear up within a few weeks when managed correctly. CKD however, is the irreversible loss of kidney function over an extended time.

But what is the cause of CKD? Diseases such as diabetes Mellitus type 2, hypertension, Lupus, and PCOS (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome) as well as prolonged excessive alcohol abuse may lead to CKD. As South Africans we are ranked the 6th highest alcohol consuming country globally putting us at greater risk of CKD and many other alcohol related diseases,

10 Signs and symptoms of CKD include:

1.      Dry and itchy skin (pruritis)

2.      Memory defects

3.      Puffy and red eyes

4.      Swelling of hands, feet and/or ankles

5.      Loss of appetite

6.      Anxiety

7.      Fatigue

8.      Personality changes

9.      Struggling to sleep

10.  Needing to pee more often

Despite CKD being a long-term health condition, there are ways to manage it which don’t include taking expensive ‘kidney relief’ supplements that are advertised and raved about by many middle-aged people.  If you don’t have CKD but want to help your kidneys work at their full capacity, here are a few things you can do:

·         Avoid excessive alcohol consumption

·         Avoid long-term drug usage i.e. painkillers

·         Manage your blood pressure

·         Avoid smoking

·         Exercise and be active most days of the week

·         Maintain a healthy weight

The next time you wonder if you need to take a ‘kidney relief’ supplement, remember that there are cheaper alternatives that will do a lot more good than only protecting your kidneys. Keep in mind that your kidneys are completely competent unless medically diagnosed otherwise.

If you have been medically diagnosed with CKD, your management may include:

·         Following a kidney-friendly diet

·         Dialysis

·         Kidney transplant

 If you are experiencing the symptoms of CKD you should get checked by a medical professional because the symptoms overlap with many other conditions making it careless to diagnose without the appropriate tests and professional medical advice.

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Until next time

Shelldon Athena Breda, RD, M.Sc.