Many people are unaware that their kidneys may not be functioning properly and, in many cases, discover it too late. The need for dialysis or kidney transplantation can be avoided when kidney diseases are detected early.
The aim of World Kidney Day is to raise awareness about acute kidney injury, encourage discussion, education and policy development, leading to improved prevention and treatment of this condition worldwide.
The World Kidney Day slogan is timeless: “Take care of your kidneys, you’ll have them for life!”
We should all know that:
• Every day, up to 180 litres of blood are filtered through the kidneys.
• Blood is cleaned up to 50 times per day.
To keep our kidneys healthy we must:
• Consume adequate fluids daily
• Follow a healthy diet
• Watch our weight and exercise
• Monitor our blood pressure
• Check our blood sugar
• Not smoke
• Avoid excessive salt consumption
• Avoid processed foods
The importance of kidney disease diagnosis
The diagnosis of kidney disease can pose a major challenge, both for the patient and their family and friends. The diagnosis and management of kidney disease, especially in its more advanced stages, has a serious impact on the lives of patients, friends and their families and prevents them from working and participating in daily activities such as travel and social interactions. At the same time, it causes significant problems and a variety of symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, pain, depression, cognitive dysfunction, gastrointestinal disorders and sleep problems.
Managing and treating kidney disease
The current approach to managing and treating kidney disease aims to extend life through maintaining, restoring or replacing kidney function. At the same time, it aims to relieve symptoms regardless of effectiveness in overall kidney disease management. This disease-focused approach may be inadequate as it does not adequately reflect patients’ priorities and values. People living with kidney disease want above all to live well and maintain their role and social life with some normality, achieving a sense of control over their health and well-being. The currently prevailing view on managing kidney disease further prevents active patient participation as they have no substantial intervention in the management and treatment of their disease. This in turn often leads them to perceive treatment as something imposed on them, like a punishment beyond their control.
For patients to be self-sufficient, dedicated and their treatment effective, they must fully understand that their symptoms can be effectively managed while simultaneously gaining motivation to actively participate in their treatment. Active participation in life and treatment is particularly important for both patients and their caregivers, in contrast to the sense of disappointment and limitation that often accompanies the current approach to managing kidney disease.
