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| eating healthy prevents kidney disease |
Kidney disease is a painless killer disease that can start suddenly within hours or days or develop slowly over several months to years at any age, and does not depend on your position in the society. It is therefore an equal opportunity devastating disease. It is instructive to note that in 2011 the National Kidney Foundation NKF rolled out figures that said about 27 million Nigerians have chronic Kidney disease . The National Association of Nephrology (NAN) comfirms this staggering statistic by adding that 30 million Nigerians have chronic kidney disease. So today we are looking at Kidney disease and its dietetic handling.
CAUSES OF KIDNEY DISEASE
· Massive body fluid loss: After diarrhea and vomiting eg. Especially at home or injuries sustained through accidents.
· Consumption of undefined herbal remedies.
· Frequent consumption of pain killing drugs like panadol, alabukun powder, and many antibiotics without prescription.
· Untreated hypertension.
· Poorly treated diabetes.
· Skin infections, boils and scabies.
· Unrelieved urinary tract obstruction.
SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY DISEASE.
· Swelling of face and legs.
· Urine that foams.
· Urine that looks reddish in colour.
· Wakening up more than four times at night to urinate.
· Passage of too little urine in spite of drinking.
· Headaches, blurred vision, dizziness.
· Constant body weakness and getting tired easily.
· Loss of appetite and vomiting especially early in the morning.
· Sleep difficulties and hiccups
HOW IS KIDNEY DISEASE CONFIRMED?
· By carrying out tests beginning with urine test.
DIETARY/NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT OF KIDNEY DISEASE
The type of kidney disease you have determines the nutritional management of the disease. The National Kidney Foundation recommends the following guidelines established by the Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative, which breaks down the large groups and types of kidney diseases into five stages.
If you are in stages one through to four, these comprise the chronic kidney disease category. Kidney failure alone makes up stage five, which generally involves dialysis treatment. Nutrition management during dialysis depends on whether you choose haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
Nutritional management for chronic kidney disease changes over time and bears monitoring by your health care providers. They will evaluate your blood work to adjust your dietary management. In general, you need to eat less protein because the kidneys can no longer process the wastes, which build up in the blood. The National Kidney Foundation advises getting enough calories to sustain energy and keep protein from being wasted.
Always check with your physician or dietician before taking any vitamins or minerals which also build up in the blood in the absence of kidney function. Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and check in often with your care provider to monitor your lab values.
