Monday, 2 September 2024, Our kidneys are the often-forgotten heroes of our bodies. Most of us take for granted that they are one of our most vital lifelines to good health. Few of us think about the way they work constantly to filter dangerous toxins from our blood, balance the fluid levels in our bodies and maintain a healthy pH level in our blood.
Speaking ahead of National Kidney Awareness Week in South Africa from September 2 to 6, Dr Chevon Clark, the chief executive officer for National Renal Care, explains that if our kidneys are unable to perform these functions, our bodies soon become swamped with waste products with devastating effects for health unless the blood is artificially purified with lifesaving dialysis therapy.
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“Fortunately, there is so much we can do to help our kidneys function well. At National Renal Care, we are passionate about educating the public about what they can do on a personal level to keep our kidneys functioning optimally for as long as possible. We’re also here to support people with compromised kidney function to help them improve their health and quality of life.”
National Renal Care (NRC) provides person centred renal care and dialysis treatment at home and in healthcare facilities to people living with chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. With a network of over 75 dedicated dialysis units across South Africa, NRC staff also help educate their patients and their families by providing important information about chronic kidney disease and the treatment available, and provide renal care through their Healthy Start Programme.
Dr Clark encourages people who are at risk of or affected by kidney disease to take an active role in improving their health, no matter their condition. “Changing your ways now can help reduce your risk and prevent the onset of kidney disease. Start with regular health checks from your medical practitioner. If you show signs of kidney disease, they can help you take proactive steps to slow the progression of your condition and ultimately delay dialysis.
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“No one chooses with kidney disease, however if you are diagnosed National Renal Care can provide you with the care and support you need from compassionate nephrologists and healthcare professionals to help you manage your condition and bring it under control.”
Dr Clark encourages people to make sensible choices to effectively reduce the risk of developing kidney disease. “It’s all about balance.” She explains how the acronym ‘Balance’ can help remind people how to look after their kidneys.
B – Balance the water levels in your body by drinking six to eight glasses of water a day, unless otherwise indicated by your healthcare provider. “This will help your kidneys to flush out harmful toxins. Think of the difference between a polluted river and a clear mountain spring. Aim to keep balancing the fluid in your body each day to help reduce the toxins circulating in your bloodstream.”
A – Alcohol should be limited. “Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to heart disease and high blood pressure. These increase the risk of kidney disease.”
L – Lifestyle choices can go a long way to supporting healthy kidney function. Dr Clark advocates adequate rest, stress management, and mindful healthy choices.
A – Advice from medical practitioners and an organisation that knows what it’s doing in terms of optimising kidney function in their patients is invaluable in helping to maintain your health. “Reach out to professionals who can guide you to protect your kidney function,” urges Dr Clark.
N – Nutrition is key to good health. Eating a balanced, nutritious diet can help prevent kidney disease and shift unhealthy excess weight. “Higher body mass index is a concern as it correlates with a higher risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, which are both major threats to kidney health.”
C - Cigarettes increase the risk of kidney disease. “There’s no getting away from it. Smokers are three times more likely to have reduced kidney function,” warns Dr Clark. “Giving up smoking is one of the most important lifestyle changes you can make to reduce the risk of developing kidney disease.”
E – Exercise. Start gently and work up to a good level of fitness. “Let your heart pump blood to your organs to help reduce your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes that in turn can increase your risk factors for kidney disease. Do what works for you, but do it.”
Dr Clark explains that some existing health conditions and diseases require extra vigilance about the health of your kidneys. She says those who have these conditions can help themselves by doing the following:
- If you are diabetic, maintain good blood glucose control as best you can.
- Educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of kidney disease, using the accessible information on the National Renal Care website, https://nrc.co.za.
- Take your medication exactly as prescribed by your medical practitioner and according to the recommended dosages.
- Take over-the-counter medication and dietary supplements or vitamins only with the approval of your doctor.
Dr Clark says that in the early stages of kidney disease, there are often no symptoms to alert people that their kidneys are not functioning properly. “That’s why regular physical check-ups at your general practitioner, including blood tests and urine tests, are so important. Test results may show signs of kidney disease even when a patient feels fine.”
As kidney disease progresses, some people may start to feel unwell. “The change may be so slow that they don’t do anything about these feelings. Symptoms of kidney disease can include headaches, puffiness around the eyes, diarrhoea, decreased sexual interest, increased thirst, feeling colder than those around you, drowsiness or confusion, decreased urine output, and trouble with concentrating.”
Dr Clark explains that when the kidneys stop working or their level of efficiency is less than 10%, this is classified as kidney failure. “The waste products and excess fluid accumulate in the body to toxic levels. Acute renal failure occurs when the kidneys suddenly shut down temporarily due to disease, injury, major surgery, or toxic agents. Chronic renal failure can happen suddenly, or develop gradually over time. This, unfortunately, is irreversible.” Kidney failure is life threatening unless treated by dialysis or transplantation.
Dr Clark says a diagnosis of kidney failure and adjusting to the time spent on dialysis can be difficult, but their organisation is geared towards helping support their new patients as well as providing ongoing assistance to their existing patients. “Patients may need to make changes to their work or home life. Accepting this new reality can be difficult.
“While kidney disease is not curable, it can be treated successfully when detected at an early stage. The right support through all stages of kidney disease is critical to managing it properly.”
Fact box - Did you know?
Kidneys retain the substances we need to be healthy, while eliminating toxic waste in the form of urine.
According to the National Kidney Foundation of South Africa, our kidneys filter 200 litres of blood per day reabsorbing useful substances like proteins and nutrients, before excreting around two litres of waste through urine. They also control the amount of acidity and alkalinity (pH) in your body.
Fact box - Exactly what do our kidneys do?
Dr Clark explains that the kidneys are a pair of bean shaped organs measuring 10 to 15cm located at the back of the body around the level of the waist. They filter out harmful toxins in our blood through millions of small, thinly walled blood vessels. “The fluid filtered out is called urine, which is collected in the central part of the kidney. Urine passes through the urinary ducts, or urethras, down to the bladder. Each day, they excrete about one to two litres of urine. Kidneys maintain the body's balance of various salts such as sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate, and acid. They release hormones, which influence the bone structure (Vitamin D), the generation of red blood cells (erythropoietin), and the regulation of blood pressure.”
If the kidneys are damaged or do not function properly, this can result in kidney disease.
For more information, please visit https://nrc.co.za/.
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- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10029276/#:~:text=The%20overall%20prevalence%20of%20CKD,the%20study%20participants%20%5B21%5D