THE body has two kidneys that are about the size of a human adult’s fist and located on either side of the spine just below the rib cage, according to New York, USA-based National Kidney Foundation (NKF). These hardworking organs perform many functions, particularly in helping remove waste and excess fluid from the body, regulate blood pressure as well as the amount of nutrients in the body like calcium and potassium, among others. How do the kidneys perform their life-sustaining job? The kidneys filter and return fluid to the bloodstream, a portion of which are retained in the body, and another portion is discarded through urine.
So why do many people suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease or CKD? Experts say the cause of kidney diseases are mostly lifestyle related such as consumption of unhealthy food, alcohol, smoking, that may lead to risk factors that can cause CKD like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, old age, or even family history. Unfortunately, symptoms of CKD are hardly noticeable until it reaches an advanced stage or as more complications develop. The NKF said about 37 million adults in the US are living with CKD, with approximately 90 percent of them not even knowing they have it.
In the Philippines, CKD is one of the leading causes of death as the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) said that one Filipino develops chronic renal failure every hour, estimated to be at least 2.3 million Filipinos currently diagnosed with CKD. Other recent projections show that one in 10 Filipinos will develop this deadly disease.
TO help spread awareness about CKD, patient organizations and medical societies came together to celebrate National Kidney Month by helping Filipinos detect the early symptoms of CKD and educating them on prevention. This was done through an event titled “It Starts with U: Get CheCKD” that was supported by Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines), Inc. Several experts and partner organizations were present during the event like Rey Abacan Jr.
, President and Founder of Dialysis PH; Marimel Lamsin, Internal Vice President of the Kidney Transplant Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KITAP); Karen Alparce-Villanueva, President of the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO); and Dr. Rose Marie Rosete-Liquete, Executive Director of NKTI.
The experts who attended the event shared with the audience the prevalence and dangers of CKD, and how Filipinos can adopt simple yet effective measures to protect themselves. They said CKD is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the Philippines and part of its danger is the difficulty in early detection since its symptoms don’t manifest until it’s too late. However, renowned nephrologist Dr.
Maaliddin Biruar, who was the key expert of the talk, said this condition can be easily mitigated by regular testing and adapting a few lifestyle changes. “Early detection and regular medical consultations will help prevent the progression of CKD in our patients, ensuring better quality of life and productivity. By addressing the risk factors of CKD such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, we can also reduce the socioeconomic burden of treating end-stage CKD,” Dr.
Liquete pointed out. The event also enabled Boehringer to launch their new disease awareness website ItStartsWithYou.com.
ph, a web page that contains data and information on CKD that patients and the public can freely access. “Accessible tools and education are essential in combating CKD. With tools like this websit e, we can empower Filipinos with the knowledge and understanding for detecting CKD early and managing it effectively.
Early detection through accessible testing can significantly improve outcomes and enhance the quality of life for those affected by this silent but serious condition,” according to Dr. Greta Cortez, Head of Medicine for Human Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines. Throughout the duration of the event, families enjoyed educational and entertaining activities at different zones where they checked for CKD and learned the importance of adopting healthy habits to prevent the disease.
“We are happy to see that more Filipinos are taking a proactive step towards taking care of their kidneys. We are committed to improving the lives of Filipinos with interconnected cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic disease, which CKD is a part of. The best way to make lasting change is by educating our communities, healthcare providers, patients, and their families,” concluded Dr.
Cortez..
