As the world celebrates World Kidney Day today (March 11), the Philippine Society of Nephrology-Western Visayas Chapter participated in the celebration as they wanted to increase awareness on kidney diseases and its prevention.

“As of now, once kidney disease is established there is no cure. If the kidneys start to fail, you cannot reverse the process so the best way is prevention,” Dr. Maria Remedios Tomas told PIA.

Tomas, the Secretary of the Philippine Society of Nephrology –Western Visayas Chapter and Chair of the World Kidney celebration added that the society is conducting information campaign to let the people know that it is very easy to look for kidney diseases.

One should not wait for the symptoms to show itself since these usually come out too late.

Tomas suggested three very simple tests that will show if there are abnormalities that lead to kidney disease. These tests are:
1. Do urinalysis.
2. Do serum creatinine
3. Do blood pressure monitoring

For urinalysis, one may avail of it at the City Health Office while creatinine test can be checked for less than P100 pesos and blood pressure is higher on those found with kidney diseases, Tomas added.

The worst symptoms on a later stage of kidney disease include anemia, poor appetite, vomiting and unusual tiredness and paleness. If these symptoms go on unrecognized this will lead to convulsion and eventually coma.

Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney disease. People who have diabetes, high blood pressure and overweight are advised to have their kidney checked by nephrologists.

In Bacolod City, there are 10 adult kidney doctors and 2 pediatric kidney doctors to attend to these patients.

Diabetes and high blood pressure are lifestyle diseases brought about by sedentary lifestyle due to lack of exercise, diet due to wrong choice of food and vices like smoking and intake of alcoholic beverages. Because of these lifestyle diseases and family history, although family history alone cannot make one diabetic or develop hypertension, more and more gets kidney failure making it a few notches higher in the list of 10 leading causes of death in the Philippines.

“If we talk about kidneys, do not wait for symptoms. Even if you don’t feel anything wrong, even if you feel you are healthy, go for screening – urine, serum or blood creatinine and blood pressure monitoring. Results have the normal count and then compare if you find out results are not normal, consult with any of the kidney doctors. And always maintain a healthy lifestyle.” Tomas reiterated when asked for advice on kidney disease prevention.