KIDNEY DISEASE

There was a pathetic case of a 29-year-old who developed diabetes at the age of seven, started hypertension medications at 16 and three years later, developed kidney problems. Another person, though slightly different, it all started as a fever and he was taken to the hospital by the mother. Initially, he felt better after the treatment but he had to go back to the hospital because he had a swollen stomach, the face was puffy and it was really difficult coping with lecture in school being a student of a high institution in Nigeria. It was much later that he was told that he had developed kidney problem. Health tips

The Vegetarian Diet for Kidney Disease: Preserving Kidney Function With Plant-based Eating

Another case of a woman is also the same, puffy face and fever were some on the complaints she had when she initially complained during one of the antenatal clinic days. Invariably, she was diagnosed with kidney problem after her admission at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. Health is life.

Every year millions die prematurely of kidney failure or heart attack and strokes linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The kidney an amazing organ, plays a crucial role in keeping us alive and well. For instance, the kidney helps to keep the blood pressure in a healthy range. Health information.

People of all ages, races and both sexes may develop kidney failure due to hypertension. However, some groups are at much greater risk than others. For instance, African- Americans are at particularly high risk for both hypertension and renal failure and have four times the number of kidney failure cases as whites. They also experience kidney failure at a younger age, with an onset at about age 56 compared to an onset at age 62 for the whites. Health matters.

Yearly a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of our kidneys and in reducing the  frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide is spearheaded by experts since cases of kidney problem are on the rise. The importance of controlling blood pressure in order to prevent kidney problem is the thrust of 2009 World Kidney Day celebration, given the fact that hypertension is the major cause of kidney failure worldwide Health wellness is for you.

The Vegetarian Diet for Kidney Disease: Preserving Kidney Function With Plant-based Eating

Dr. Ayo Arije, consultant nephrologists, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan Nigeria, described kidney failure as a situation in which the body has find retention, risen blood pressure, toxin build up and lack of red blood cells. “The kidney can fail for several reasons such as problem of drugs and hypertension. We are seeing more cases in the hospital than many think and so people must not take it for granted that this cannot happen, especially because of the strategic importance to the normal functions of the body”.

According to Dr. Arije, the president, Nephrology Society of Nigeria, kidney disease is common treatable and preventable.” It is harmful in that it does not give symptoms until it advanced and at the late stage when the damage would have gone really far. By then, the cost of treatment would have become prohibitive. Your health is your wealth.

Like the saying, you do not value an item until it is gone. This is exactly what happens to people that develop advance kidney disease The kidney has an advance role to play in the body in maintaining the internal environmental balance of the body and once it fails, this start to show it effects in blood system and consequently affects the whole body. Health information is important.

He explained that since the kidney is involved in regulating water balance through the formation of urine, when it fails, this balance is disturbed and therefore, the minerals like sodium, calcium, potassium and phosphorus and water content of the body is disorganized, thus resulting in hypertension and all kinds of abnormal symptoms like tiredness on mild exertion, leg swelling and palpitation of the heart. High blood pressure makes your heart works harder and over time, can damage blood vessels throughout your body. If the blood vessels in your kidneys are damaged, they may stop removing wastes and extra fluid from your body. The extra fluid in your blood vessels may then raise blood pressure even more. It is a dangerous cycle.

Apart from these, there could be other symptoms like nausea, vomiting and urine production may be reduced, although this is not in all cases. “It is usually at this stage that people come to the hospital. “He declared.

Dr. Arije explained that some people are particularly at risk of developing kidney diseases and as such, it is important for people to be aware of the predis posing factors.

Diabetes patients particularly at risk, so are people with hypertension and those with family history of kidney disease. People above the age of 40 can also develop the problem because kidney functions naturally start to decline and any insult to the kidney can lead to kidney problems. Similarly, kidney problem is more severe in blacks and this had been attributed to the fact that the more severe form of hypertension is found in black people. “Health tips.

There are other secondary factors that lead to kidney disease. According to Dr. Arije, things like obesity, skin infections caused by bacteria, urinary tract infection, auto- immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, herbs and misuse of pain medications.

TIPS TO AVOID KIDNEY PROBLEMS

Dr. Arije Suggested tips to avoid kidney problems to include, avoidance of misuse of medications, control of body weight, avoidance of smoking, complying with health diet, exercises and regular monitoring of blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

The Vegetarian Diet for Kidney Disease: Preserving Kidney Function With Plant-based EatingThe Vegetarian Diet for Kidney Disease: Preserving Kidney Function With Plant-based Eating


He advised that people as part of their yearly medical test should check for any abnormality with their kidney. “They may have to do such simple tests as urine test for the protein and sugar content in their urine as well as blood tests for creatinine and urea. Those in whom abnormality are found may then be referred to a kidney specialist to have thorough checkup and follow-up done.”

Elevated level of either creatinine or urea can indicate kidney damage. Excess of protein in the urine is also a sign of kidney disease.

For patients who have hypertension and kidney disease, the most important treatment is to control your blood pressure. However, most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms. The only way to know whether your blood pressure is high is to have a health professional, measure it with blood pressure cuff. Health is life

All patients with kidney failure, despite the cause of the failure, must receive kidney dialysis or kidney transplantation. Dialysis is procedure that uses a machine called dialyzer  to clean and filter the blood, since kidney can no longer perform that function.

Patients must also change their diets to carefully limit the amount of salt, potassium and fluids that are consumed, among other dietary restrictions that are given.

The Vegetarian Diet for Kidney Disease: Preserving Kidney Function With Plant-based Eating

Eventually, those on dialysis will require transplantation of a kidney, either from a recently deceased person or a live donor. Since getting a donor is still a big problem as well as the cost of the drugs that must be taken every day to prevent organ-rejection, ensuring kidney failure should be the ultimate goal of all individual. Life is health.