Check-ups and discipline are must in preventing kidney diseases: Expert
The number of kidney-related diseases in the UAE is on the rise, registering an increase of around 10 to 15 per cent each year that is largely fuelled by the growth of the diabetic population in the country.
Diabetes and hypertension are spreading like epidemics in the world, and particularly in the UAE, chiefly due to the sedentary and the affluent lifestyle people maintain here. This is one of the underlying reasons for renal failure and related diseases, but preventive care at the onset of symptoms can effectively slow down the progress of diseases that lead to renal failure.
One of the offshoots of diabetes is its effect on the vision and swelling of legs. If your vision is blurring, it is suggested to visit a doctor and get a urine test done. Normal urine does not contain protein. If your urine test detects traces of protein, then it is a reason for you to visit a nephrologist.
Early detection can help patients get the treatment they need and delay the progression of the disease and requirement for dialysis, saving at least three to four years of the patient’s life.
The best way to keep a tab on one’s overall wellness is through regular health check-ups. Normally, non-diabetic people or people with no medical illnesses must undergo an annual overall health check-up after the age of 40.
After 40, the body becomes more susceptible to health-related risks. It is important to keep a check on vital components like blood sugar, lipids, blood pressure and urine.
Medical professionals strongly recommend exercising and maintaining discipline while popping pills. With a busy life, patients mostly overlook health signs or resort to self-medication, avoiding a visit to the doctor and in turn leading to the deterioration of their own health.
Some of the medicines, which are liberally used by people at home, are gravely nephrotoxic. Nephrotoxic drugs and painkillers lead to renal failure. Medicines with the least side effects are paracetamols like Panadol and Adol. Ideally, the general public should be aware of the side effects of the drugs they are taking, including analgesic drugs for headache or body ache, among others.
After the age of 40, the body becomes more susceptible to health-related risks. It is important to keep a check on blood sugar, lipids, blood pressure and urine.”
Dr Manish Tripathi