March Kidney Month: How to prevent kidney disease?
March 5, 2016
Kidney diseases affect 10 percent of the world's population and the number of deaths from complications related to chronic kidney failure increases each year. Although these diseases have their origin in congenital causes, factors such as: changes in lifestyle, increased sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits, among others, have caused chronic kidney disease to be the cause of non-communicable premature death with the highest growth in the last 20 years.
In Ecuador, at least 11,000 people annually undergo dialysis and the number is increasing: 1,000 more people each year, according to Fabián Ortiz, president of the Ecuadorian Society of Nephrology and doctor of the BMI network of Ecuador Compañía de Seguros de Life SA
Hence the importance of preventing kidney disease. This 2016, the slogan for World Kidney Day: “Kidney disease and children. Act early to prevent them ”. Dr. Fabián Ortiz insists on the importance of caring for these vital organs from childhood to prevent disease and improve early diagnosis. It also shows us eight golden rules to take into account for the care of our kidneys:
- Maintain good physical condition and have an exercise routine.
- Keep a continuous control of glucose levels in the blood.
- Have regular blood pressure monitoring.
- Have an adequate diet and take care of your body weight.
- Drink water daily.
- Do not smoke and drink alcohol.
- You should not self-medicate.
- Go to the doctor if: you have high blood pressure, you have diabetes, you are obese or a family member has kidney disease.
The President of the Ecuadorian Society of Nephrology and doctor of the BMI network of Ecuador Compañía de Seguros de Vida SA adds that “the consumption of diets rich in protein and salt, favors the development of hypertension and kidney stones. If sedentary lifestyle and obesity are added to this, the risk factors increase to develop kidney disease ”.
Around the world, since 2006, World Kidney Day has been highlighted with activities such as informative talks, prevention campaigns, free medical care to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of our kidneys. BMI del Ecuador Compañía de Seguros de Vida SA and its network of doctors contribute to society to mitigate the increase in kidney diseases in the country through practical advice for society.
