Wanna avoid kidney disease? Then drink up... on water

Drinking eight glasses of water a day is a cardinal rule of health that should not be taken lightly.

 

Failing to stick to the habit, after all, could have some serious consequences on one's health.

 

In an interview with State of the Nation with Jessica Soho (SONA), urologist Dr. Juvido Agatep said getting kidney stones is a "very common" condition in the Philippines because of the climate.

 

"Kapag mainit, there's a tendency that the patient will develop [kidney] stones dahil nagkakaroon ng dehydration," he said.

 

It doesn't help that Filipinos' lifestyle, with a preference for savory, if not salty, dishes, also contribute to the problem.

 

Data from the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) show that kidney diseases ran seventh among the leading causes of death in the country, with a Filipino diagnosed with renal failure every hour.

 

Furthermore, according to NKTI, more than 5,000 Filipinos undergo dialysis treatment regularly.

 

According to the SONA report, the most obvious symptoms of kidney problems include difficulty or pain while urinating, as well as "extreme pain" at the flank region, or "one side of the body between the upper abdomen and the back.

 

Starting 'em young

 

Already, one local government unit is turning to legislature to address this state of affairs.

 

In M'Lang town in Cotabato, the local government passed an ordinance requiring students from elementary to high school to drink the requisite amount of water daily between their classes.

 

Town councilor Gerardo Pinol, author of the ordinance, said he introduced the idea because he was alarmed by the increasing cases of urinary-related illnesses among constituents.

 

From January to May of this year, 12 residents of M'Lang died because of kidney failure, data from the local government showed.

 

"Hinanapan natin ng paraan kung paano ma-reduce," he told GMA News.

 

Agatep said it is advisable for a person to drink water "best [in the] morning, during the daytime."

 

"[Dapat] mas marami siyang iinuming tubig [nu'n] kasi this is the time na active siya, this is the time na pinagpapawisan siya," he said. - Rose-An Jessica Dioquino, JST, GMA News