For the culmination of the National Kidney Month in Valenzuela City, the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) urged the public to have their urine tested at least once a year to early detect kidney diseases.

 

“Kidney diseases are among the most fatal but, unfortunately, they do not present any symptom that would tell you that you have contracted them. By the time you feel something is wrong that you need to see a doctor, more than 50 per cent of your kidney has been damaged,” said Dr. Susan Jorge, Officer-in-charge of the Renal Disease Control and Prevention of the NKTI, at a lay forum at the Valenzuela City Auditorium on Friday, June 27.   

 

Obvious symptoms like dull complexion, loss of appetite, feeling of weakness, and hypertension surface only when the kidney disease is in its late stage and cannot be cured back to health anymore, Dr. Jorge said.

 

The two kidneys filter the blood for wastes, which the body then expels through urination. When these two bean-shaped organs fail, these wastes mix with and pollute the blood. The only remedy is to remove the kidneys and transplant new ones.

 

In its nascent stage, a kidney disease can only be detected through urinalysis, or urine examination. The presence of protein, glucose, blood, or pus in the urine is sign of a kidney disease.

 

In Valenzuela City, City Health Office records show that renal failure killed 34 in 2013, the eighth most common mortal disease.

 

A total of 50 patients have been served by the dialysis center run by the Valenzuela City local government since its opening in May 2013.

 

Dr. Jorge said kidney diseases can be avoided through healthy practices: a daily intake of six to eight glasses of water, a balanced diet, regular exercise, proper hygiene, and enough sleep.

 

Foods rich in fats, sugar, and salt should be eaten in moderation, she said. Dr. Jorge also advised against smoking and taking medicines that are not prescribed by doctors, like painkillers and herbal food supplements.

 

“A healthy lifestyle makes your kidneys smile,” she said.