Kidney disease; a lot of us are vulnerable

Kidney Disease; all of us are vulnerable My mother died in June, 2013, due to kidney disease complications. All of a sudden my eldest aunt is diagnosed with similar complications last week. She is currently going through dialysis procedures in federal Medical centre, Yola, Adamawa State. These two incidences have greatly hightened my fear that i may have similar disease later in my life. Or there is a possibility it runs in my familar. So i quickly started to look up information about kidney disease. Even though i found out that kidney disease does not transmit from parents to children, What i discovered even shocked me more; because a lot of us are vulnerable. Kidneys are two organs located on either side of the back of the abdominal cavity. Its most important function is to regulate the fluid balance in the body. It adjusts, for instance, the urine volume excreted daily by adjusting the amount on cold times which is usually more and less urine during hot seasons because the fluids escapes through more sweat. It also functions essentially to to filter waste products from the blood. The cells in the body uses energy which in turn produces waste products which the kidneys filters, if the organ allows high accumulation it causes what is called uremia. Usually the build up of creatinine level and blood urea nitrogen are indicators of failing kidney. When the kidneys fail, a complex process called dialysis is performed to take over the functions of the kidneys. The dialysis is alleged to allow patiants live their normal practical lives. Most Federal Medical centres have dialysis centres, including Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria. Private sector iniatiaves are also helping in setting up dialysis and kidney foundations that help patiants. These centres are vital to the prevention of kidney disease. What is crucial in the prevention however, is early detection and intervention of contracted patiants. Exercise, good diet and precise medication can enhance kidney functions. Managing high blood pressure and diabetes can also help control kidney failure. Kelly Fitzgerald wrote that ‘a group of investigators, led by Alex Chang, MD,  of Johns  Hopkins University discovered that people with regular kidneys whose diet quality was bad-high in processed and red meats, sodium and sugar-sweetened bevarages, and low in fruits, nuts, legumes, whole grains, and low-fat dairy – were more likely to develop kidney disease.’ Obesity and smoking can also contribute significantly. The National Kidney Foundation has the following guidelines to reduce the risk of developing kidney disease: · Reduce Sodium (salt) intake · Limit red meat · Avoid soda · Give up processed foods · Reduce sugar intake