March is National Kidney Month

The month of March was declared by our government as National Kidney Month aside for Nutrition Month. It is an ideal time for raising public awareness on kidney disease because this disease is the ninth leading cause of death in our country. It is a silent killer that can go undetected until it becomes life-threatening. Information and education ensure that citizens will be aware of the values of understanding about the chronic kidney disease (CKD).

We understand that we have only a pair of kidney organ in our body. This vital organ provides great function to our body. It filters body waste, maintain chemical balances as well as fluids in our body. It removes excess water at our body. Kidneys filter 200 liters of blood a day, help regulate blood pressure, and production of red blood cells.

Over time, the kidneys can become damaged with little or no physical symptom to warn us that our kidneys are in trouble. Waste products then begin to build up in our blood. In the end our kidneys fail. This failure, end-stage renal disease, is very serious and requires dialysis or eventually a kidney transplant.

Diabetes can most likely damage our kidneys. This damage cannot be felt over many years without our knowing. So how can diabetes cause kidney disease? As stated in medical books, when our body digests protein, the process creates waste products. In our kidney, millions of tiny blood vessels with even tinier holes in them acts as filters. As the blood flows through the blood vessels, small molecules of waste products are squeezing through the holes. Eventually, these waste products becomes part of our urine. The useful substances, such as proteins and the red blood cells, are too big to pass through the holes in the filter and stays in the blood. High levels of blood glucose can cause stress on the filtering system of our kidneys. After a number of years, they start to leak, and proteins that are supposed to stay in our bloodstream are lost in the urine. The small quantities of protein in the urine is called microalbuminuria of which this damage just happens without any symptoms.

Considering that kidney disease is hard to detect from the symptoms alone, it is important to submit for a laboratory tests for the determination of the disease. It can be done by drawing blood to verify the level of creatinine that exists in the blood. Creatinine is a waste product that the kidneys remove from the blood. The level of creatinine in the blood indicates how functional a person’s kidneys are. When end kidney disease results, patients may require dialysis to help assist with removing waste from the body. Those with end stage renal disease may need a kidney transplant.

A proper treatment and early detection can deter delay kidney failure. Proper treatment may vary on the underlying cause of the pain. And the best way to prevent kidney pain is to eat healthy foods. Persons should take the proper amounts of sodium, protein and fluid. So, an early detection of kidney disease helps in avoiding complications later in our life. Remember, the best method of treatment is generally prevention.

There are numerous simple steps that we have to follow to keep our kidneys healthy. Examples are exercising regularly, eating less processed foods or fast foods, drinking lots of water and health screening. It is advisable to outreach to your family members, neighbors, friends and co-workers on the importance of prevention. But the best of all – make it a habit for a regular medical check-up or visit your primary care provider.