In South Africa, 20,000 new patients are admitted each year for Kidney-related diseases; this can be avoided by staying healthy – this is how…
Johannesburg, South Africa (06 March 2023) – This World Kidney Day, South Africans can access a free health screening and learn all about Kidney healthcare. Transplant Education for Living Legacies (TELL) and Hospicare Renal are providing FREE kidney disease screening at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens on Sunday, 12 March 2023 from 12:00 to 15:00 to all so that even the vulnerable have access to information. World Kidney Day is celebrated around the globe on 9 March. This year’s theme is “ Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable”
The event is being hosted as a picnic, where friends and family can come together while learning the essentials of kidney health care. Stella de Kock from TELL, who has been living with end-stage kidney failure for 12 years, will also be doing a talk on behalf of TELL. Zane, the TELL mascot will be at the event to spread joy and teach any children at the event that it’s OK to be different.
Kidney disease in South Africa
Did you know that South Africa has one of the highest rates of end-stage kidney failure in the world and a very low rate of organ and tissue donation and transplants?
The lack of education in the medical field and the public at large around the situation is only making matters more difficult. Compared to other countries in the world, South Africa’s deceased donation rate is very low, Croatia has a rate of 30.2 per million population, whereas South Africa has less than three per million. Croatia was able to increase its transplant rate in a decade due to an integrated approach towards referrals and transplants.
It is also important to note that in South Africa, the donor’s family has the final say in whether or not organs are permitted to be donated.
Health days such as World Kidney Day, celebrated on 9 March every year, present the ideal opportunity to address the issues concerning kidney health, kidney donation and transplants.
- 10% of all people in the world have some form of kidney disease.
- 850 million people are affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD), with over 2 million people worldwide receiving dialysis or living with a kidney transplant.
- 15% of South Africans are affected.
- 20 000 new patients are diagnosed every year in South Africa.
- Two leading causes of Chronic Kidney Disease are diabetes and high blood pressure.
- South Africa has one of the highest rates of end-stage kidney failure in the world.
There are eight simple ways to ensure your organs remain health so you never need to be one of the statistics.
8 Rules for Kidney Health
You don’t really think about your kidneys and the work that they do, until they don’t function anymore. You can lose up to 90% of your kidney function before showing any signs or symptoms. World Kidney Day, a global awareness campaign has developed eight golden rules to follow to ensure you keep your precious kidneys healthy.
1. Monitor and control your blood pressure
It is good practice to know what your blood pressure is; as high blood pressure can damage your kidneys and cause Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) which can progress to End Stage Renal Failure (ESRD). Normal blood pressure is 120/80, if your blood pressure is above this level when measured on two different days, consult your healthcare provider to discuss lifestyle and dietary changes that you need to make to control your blood pressure.
2. Control your blood sugar level
Many people who are diabetic develop End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD), therefore it is important to maintain your blood sugar levels and have your kidney function tested regularly. With early detection, the progression to ESRD from diabetes can be reduced or even prevented.
3. Get moving
Some of the benefits of regular exercise are:
- maintaining your ideal body weight;
- reduce blood pressure;
- reduce the risk of developing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
4. Eat a healthy diet and keep your weight stable
The reason for eating a healthy diet is that it can prevent a lot of lifestyle-related diseases such as: diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions associated with Chronic Renal Failure. Thus keeping your weight in check put less stress on all your organs.
Limiting your salt intake to 5-6 grams a day (a teaspoon). Processed food contains a lot of salt, it is best to prepare your meal from fresh ingredients whenever possible.
5. Drink enough water
Your kidneys will thank you for looking after them, drinking enough water helps clear your system of excess minerals such as sodium, potassium and phosphates which can cause damage to your organs and ultimately death.
The ideal amount of fluid you need to take will be influenced by how active you are, the climate you stay in, health conditions, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Consult your doctor on the appropriate fluid intake for your condition.
6. Don’t start to smoke and quit if you do
Smoking causes less blood to reach your kidneys which in turn causes them not to function properly. As stated above if your kidneys don’t function properly they cannot clear your body of excess minerals and toxins.
7. Avoid taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication on a regular basis.
If you take over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen) on a regular basis, you could be putting your health at risk of developing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Consult your healthcare professional to manage your pain and protect your kidneys.
8. Get your kidney function checked regularly if you are in the high-risk group.
You are considered to be a high risk of developing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) if you have:
- diabetes
- hypertension
- a family history of kidney disease
- are obese
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