Kidney (Health)

THE Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital yesterday organised a free screening exercise for the general public as part of activities marking this year’s World Kidney Day.
The theme for this year’s campaign, “Keep the pressure down”, is to highlight the fact that high blood pressure is both a risk factor and a symptom of chronic disease.
A consultant nephrologist at the hospital, Dr Charlotte Osafo, who spoke to the media during the exercise, noted that unchecked high blood pressure could severely damage the kidney.
According to her, nearly one billion people world-wide had high blood pressure, with more than 500 million having chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Dr Osafo explained that one main function of the kidney was to filter waste and excess water from the blood and make urine and noted that when the kidneys were damaged, waste substances that are toxic could build up in the body.
She said the campaign was also to encourage the public to face up to the reality of kidney disease and motivate them to check whether they were at risk or not.
She said when undetected, the risk of CKD could cause the progressive loss of kidney function, eventually leading to the need for dialysis treatment which would cost the individual about GH¢500 every week or a kidney transplant which could cost GH¢50,000.
Dr Osafo said the incidence of CKD was escalating, with 10 to 13 per cent of the population affected in most countries, adding that as a result of that millions of people were dying prematurely of cardiovascular diseases which were linked to CKD.
She said the campaign aimed at fostering more aggressive interventions by physicians to better manage both high blood pressure and CKD, as well as encourage health ministries around the world to invest in preventive measures as the incidence of the disease escalated.
She indicated that if risk factors were present, taking early action to have kidney function measured could help safe one’s life.
She commended the National Kidney Foundation for its support to help fight kidney disease and its associated risk factors.
She appealed to non-hypertensive people to have enough rest in order to keep the pressure down and also to non-diabetic people to reduce their intake of sugar.
She advised those with diabetes to ensure that their blood pressure fell below 130/80 mmHg.
To keep the kidney healthy, Dr Osafo advised the public to eat balanced diets, reduce their intake of salt, exercise regularly, get blood and urine tests and take their medications regularly.