World Kidney Day

Take heart, it really is not the end of life!
 
Organs such as the kidneys, heart, liver and others are vital to the functioning of the human body and yet we think little about them and how to keep them healthy. Often we only become aware of just how important they are when they start to fail.

Angie Ndlovu* is a senior secretary in Government and a beautiful woman who lives life to the fullest. She is such a role model to women, mothers and fellow South Africans that she has on numerous occasions been recognised for her achievements and contribution to society. All of this even after her life was turned upside down.

"I am a kidney failure patient," says Angie, who lives in the Eastern Cape with her husband and three children. "For the past three years I have been on dialysis twice a week for four hours at a time." To change her dietary habits and to put so much time aside for dialysis while being a mother and working a full day was initially an overwhelming shock for this active woman who is a self confessed workaholic and exercise fanatic. But, she adds quickly, she soon discovered even having a life-threatening disease does not mean your life has to come to an end. All it means is that you have to use your time really well, get up a great deal earlier and pay more attention to your overall lifestyle."

"Hard as it seems to understand, my life has changed for the better. At first the shock of it all was almost unbearable, but with the support of my family, friends, my kidney specialist and GEMS, my medical scheme, I have learnt to make the most of life. Having kidney failure is not a death sentence and if you take the time and trouble to learn how to you can live well with kidney disease."

How to live well with kidney disease

The National Kidney Foundation of South Africa says that 10 000 South Africans die from kidney disease and kidney failure every year while the lives of thousands of others are adversely impacted by it.

If you are concerned about the health of your kidneys the first step is to go for a check-up. If detected early kidney disease can be treated, thereby reducing other complications. Thereafter, it is important to retain a good quality of life while remaining as healthy as possible. "Education and psychosocial counseling for patients and their family members play a key role," adds Angie. "And even when dialysis is unavoidable, like in my case, you can still live a meaningful life."

Steps to take after being diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

"The first step after being diagnosed with CKD is to get all the information relating to your specific kidney problem. The next step is to make a mind shift that being on dialysis is not a death sentence. This can be extremely hard, but with the love and support of your loved ones or even a support group for CKD patients you should be able to cope with the changes that this disease requires," says Angie,

You need to meticulously follow the programme designed by your doctor to regulate your diet and exercise habits. "At first it is a big adjustment, but you will soon get used to it. The trick is to stick to it and to do what you can to still live a healthy, balanced lifestyle. It can be done!" insists Angie.

The way forward

Make a conscious decision today that you will take care of your kidneys and that you will go for regular check ups in order to detect any kidney problems as early as possible.  Drink enough water and do moderate exercise. In a nutshell: live a balanced lifestyle, even though it is not always easy. Remember, the choices you make today will influence your future health.

In Angie's case, even a healthy lifestyle could not protect her from kidney disease. "Never think it will not happen to you," she cautions. "Also remember to be even more cautious if you have a family history of kidney disease and to inform your doctor of this."

Why your kidneys are so important

Kidneys are not particularly large - about the size of our fist - but they do the most amazing job of ensuring that our bodies retain the substances that we need in order to stay healthy while at the same time keeping our blood free of toxins. They manufacture essential chemicals, break down unnecessary or dangerous chemicals, keep substances that our bodies can use and eliminate toxic waste. 

One of the more important functions of the kidneys is to filter wastes from the blood. Wastes and extra water are processed into urine, which travels via tubes called ureters to the bladder. The Kidney Foundation compares the human kidney to "a swimming pool filter, that never needs backwashing, and will rarely need an overhaul if you look after your health!"

Prevention is better than cure

Most chronic kidney diseases in South Africa are caused by high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes are often caused or exacerbated by poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle. Improving these in younger people could therefore go some way to helping prevent individuals develop these diseases and by extension, chronic kidney disease.

Why kidney's fail

Kidneys fail for various reasons. Sometimes they are damaged by poison or an accident and deteriorate quickly. Other people's kidneys are attacked by disease such as diabetic kidney disease, high blood pressure, Glomerular diseases and inherited disorders such as polycystic kidney disease. In most cases of kidney disease the deterioration in kidney function is also relatively slow. This is called Chronic Kidney Disease or chronic renal insufficiency. If the deterioration is not picked up by healthcare professionals early enough, the kidneys may be permanently damaged. CKD is often not curable, but if it is caught early it can be slowed a great deal.

When doctors talk of renal function they mean kidney function, or the efficiency of the kidney to filter blood. If the kidneys are functioning exactly as they should be it is referred to as 100% kidney functioning. The health of an individual starts to be seriously impacted if functioning falls to 25% or less. If it falls below 10% to 15%, a person will need to be treated using dialysis (blood cleaning treatments) or at worst a kidney transplant.

• Advice for those living with kidney disease
• See your doctor or specialist regularly and follow all recommendations carefully
• Carefully monitor blood glucose levels if you have diabetes
• Watch and control your blood pressure if you suffer from hypertension
• Change your diet in line with recommendations from your healthcare professional
• Give up smoking as it increases the risk of kidney disease 
• Ensure that cholesterol levels remain under control

Angie's ongoing mission

In between work and kidney dialysis, Angie is an active and involved wife and mother. She often shares advice and experiences with other patients. "My advice is to keep your mind and emotional state as healthy and optimistic as possible. Having Chronic Kidney Disease and dialysis was not the end of my life and it need not be the end of yours. Be the best you can be, even with kidney disease."

World Kidney Day is on 10 March this year and the National Kidney Foundation uses the day as a means to create awareness about this all-important human organ and how to keep it healthy. For any GEMS member queries, please contact the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or visit our website at www.gems.gov.za. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and wellbeing.

*The member's name has been changed in order to protect her privacy.

Sources
National Kidney Foundation of South Africa, www.nkf.co.za.
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov.