Doha: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has urged the public to reduce the risk of developing kidney disease as diagnosing it at early stages is difficult.
According to Teha Dham Al Mohannady, Director of Nursing, Ambulatory Care Services – Dialysis Unit at HMC, the early stages of kidney disease often display no symptoms, meaning it can be very difficult to correctly diagnose in the early stages.
“For this reason, it is essential that people live healthy lifestyles in order to reduce their risk of developing kidney disease,” she told The Peninsula.
HMC’s Nephrology Department is joining this year’s international activities to mark World Kidney Day on March 11. March is also Kidney Health Awareness Month. The global theme for 2021 is ‘Living Well with Kidney Disease’.
“Kidney disorders affect a large number of people around the world and also in Qatar. Kidney disease can affect people of any age, gender and race. We aim to create awareness about preventive behaviours, risk factors, and how to live with kidney disease. We do this because we want kidney health for all,” said Al Mohannady.
“As we know the kidneys perform many crucial functions, including, cleaning and filtering waste products out of your blood to produce urine, filtering extra water out of your blood balancing salts and chemicals that are necessary for your body to function,” she added.
Teha Dham Al Mohannady, Director of Nursing, Ambulatory Care Services – Dialysis Unit at HMC
She indicated that several factors may increase risk of chronic kidney disease including, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, glomerulonephritis such as lupus nephritis, recurrent urinary tract infection, genetic diseases such as polycystic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, kidney stones, obesity, ageing and smoking.
According to Al Mohannady, a few simple ways to keep your kidneys safe and functioning properly include, keeping active and fit; controlling blood sugar; monitoring one's blood pressure and weight; eating healthy; drinking plenty of fluids; quitting smoking; and having kidney function tested if at high risk.
In advice to people with kidney diseases, she said, “Maintain a healthy weight with exercising for 150 minutes like walking, swimming, bicycling every week (30 minutes, 5 times per week), take medications as prescribed by doctor, follow regularly with your treating doctor in nephrology clinic in HMC, and follow a healthy diet based on the stage of kidney disease.”
