The incidence of kidney failure is on the rise in Nigeria. Experts say the number of Nigerians with kidney failure has doubled in recent times, a situation they say requires urgent attention.
High blood pressure, diabetes and obesity have been blamed for developing kidney disease. Common signs of kidney problems include frequent urination, problems urinating, and constant thirst.
According to Consultant Nephrologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr. Gbenga Awobusuyi, about 30 million Nigerians are suffering from one form of kidney disease or the other.
This number, no doubt, is worrisome considering also the lack of resources and facilities to manage the condition in Nigeria
The World Health Organization (WHO) statistics reveal that the death rate from intrinsic kidney and urinary tract disease was one million in the year 2012; ranking twelfth on the list of major causes of deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, and indeed, Nigeria.
According to hospital statistics, Kidney specialist and Consultant Nephrologist, Dr. Ebun Bamigboye, says one in seven Nigerians is at one stage of kidney failure or the other.
Bamigboye explained: “We estimate that we get about 15,000 new patients with chronic kidney diseases every year. About 50,000 patients in Nigeria require dialysis, but just 1,000 are on it. The prevalence rate of kidney failure in Nigeria is 15 per cent and this is high in every sense.”
Bamigboye, who is the head of the Kidney Care Unit, St. Nicholas Hospital, blamed the situation on undetected high blood pressure, stressing that most people do not know whether they have high blood pressure or not. Hence, the need for increased awareness on ways of protecting our kidneys from damage. This, according to scientific evidence, can be done through healthy lifestyle and regular health check – particularly blood pressure.
It is crucial to take care of these critically important organs, and there are a number of things that can be done to keep the kidneys functioning properly and keep them as healthy as possible at every stage of life.
The National Kidney Foundation has provided the tips below for reducing one’s risk of kidney disease.
* Get tested. If you are at risk of kidney disease, it’s important to get your kidneys checked during your annual health check. There are two simple tests to check for kidney disease:
• A urine test for albumin, a type of protein. Protein in the urine is one of the earliest signs of kidney damage. When there is too much protein in the urine, it means that the kidneys’ filters have been damaged and are starting to leak protein.
• A blood test for creatinine. Creatinine is a waste product (from muscle metabolism) that is removed by the kidney. Creatinine levels are used to calculate your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The eGFR reflects how well the kidneys are filtering wastes from the blood.
* Control blood pressure and blood sugar
levels.
High blood pressure and diabetes are the two leading causes of kidney disease. The kidney is a “vascular” organ, meaning it contains many blood vessels.
Therefore, diseases that damage the blood vessels -including high blood pressure and diabetes, can damage the kidneys. Even “slightly” high blood pressure (pre-hypertension) and elevated blood sugar levels, commonly referred to as “pre-diabetes,” can damage the kidneys.
* Step on the scale. Maintaining a healthy weight has important benefits for your kidneys. Being overweight means that the kidneys have to work harder to filter out toxins and to meet the metabolic demands of the increased body mass. Obesity also increases your chance of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, two major risk factors for kidney disease.
* Quit Smoking. Smoking can worsen kidney disease and diseases that damage the kidneys, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Quitting can be difficult, but it is one of the most important lifestyle changes that you can make to protect your kidneys and impact your overall
health.
* Get moving and watch what you eat. Because damage to the kidneys usually happens slowly over time, daily decisions make a difference in preventing kidney disease. Making good choices each day such as incorporating physical activity and eating healthy foods will reduce your risk of developing kidney disease. Reduce your salt intake and watch for high sodium levels in processed foods, as these can lead to high blood pressure and harm the
kidneys.
