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Thursday March 11 is World Kidney Day, an annual campaign to raise awareness about kidney disease and help take care of our kidneys. In order to both improve education and understanding of effective symptom management and to encourage a sense of control over health and well-being, 2021 has been declared the Year of ‘Living Well with a Healthy Life’. kidney disease ”.
The kidneys do so much to keep us healthy; they remove toxins / wastes from our blood, help regulate blood pressure and activate vitamin D to stimulate bones and muscles. Chronic kidney disease occurs when the kidneys are damaged or stop working properly.
It is estimated that three million people in the UK suffer from chronic kidney disease, but around a third of them have not been diagnosed. If left undiagnosed or poorly managed, kidney disease can lead to kidney failure – it can be fatal without treatment in the form of regular dialysis or kidney transplantation. The average wait for a kidney transplant is three years and in 2019, five people were reported to die per week while waiting for a transplant.
Anyone can develop kidney disease, but those with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or a family history of kidney disease are at higher risk. It was also found that up to a quarter of people who required intensive care unit ventilation for Covid-19 developed severe acute kidney injury and had to undergo dialysis as a result.
There are things we can do to help keep our kidneys healthy and prevent kidney disease, such as:
- eat well and not have more than a teaspoon of salt per day
- keeping diabetes or high blood pressure under control
- do 30 minutes of exercise five days a week
- stop smoking
- staying hydrated and avoiding excess alcohol
The following signs could be signs of kidney disease, so if you experience any of these symptoms it would be helpful to see your GP for further advice and investigation:
- a reduced amount of urine
- swelling of the legs, ankles or feet (due to water retention)
- shortness of breath
- drowsiness or excessive fatigue
- persistent nausea
- confusion
- chest pain / pressure
- seizures
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