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Health Hacks for Keeping Kidney Disease at Bay
Chronic Kidney Disease or CKD is among the leading causes of sickness and death in the Philippines.1
In 2023, the Philippine Society of Nephrology reported that about 7 million Filipinos are estimated to have chronic kidney disease. They said that one Filipino develops CKD every hour.2
“Our group’s mission is to raise disease awareness and prevention of CKD,” shared Reynaldo Abacan Jr., President and Founder of Dialysis PH in a recent interview with Dapat Alam Mo!. Dialysis PH is a support group for CKD patients and their families. Established in 2014, the organization currently has 66,000 members.
Dialysis PH promotes Chronic Kidney Disease awareness through its education campaigns. They also help patients and their families manage life with CKD by providing a venue for them to share their concerns and exchange experiences.
As someone who was diagnosed with CKD in 2010, Abacan highlighted the “8 Golden Rules of Kidney Health” as an encouragement to everyone to adopt a healthier lifestyle that could save their lives. Incorporating these changes into our daily lives can lower our risk of getting CKD.
1. Keep fit and be active. Encourage your loved ones to do the same to promote health and wellness in the community.
2. Eat a healthy diet. It’s time to relearn your Go, Grow, and Glow foods and start enjoying healthy meals.
3. Regularly check and ensure that you have your blood sugar in control. Eating sweets and carbohydrates in moderation is advised to maintain a healthy sugar level in our bodies.
4. Regularly check and ensure that your blood pressure is within acceptable limits. According to studies, the top 2 leading causes of CKD are hypertension and diabetes. Therefore, ensuring that both our sugar level and blood pressure are controlled is already a great step towards CKD prevention. Drink plenty of water. Make sure your fluid intake is appropriate, especially during the intense summer heat, and avoid getting dehydrated.
5. Avoid or stop unhealthy vices like drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco. We have a higher chance of acquiring chronic illnesses with this type of lifestyle.
6. Avoid indiscriminately taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory/pain-killer pills. These pills can damage our kidneys if taken frequently.
7. Get your kidneys checked regularly. This is the only way to know if your kidneys are functioning well.
“The problem with [CKD] is that it has no early signs. Symptoms will only show up when your kidneys have deteriorated already,3” shares Dr. Greta Cortez, Head of Medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines), Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim is a strong advocate of CKD awareness and works closely with organizations to create opportunities for more Filipinos to be educated about this silent killer.
According to Abacan, he had to undergo dialysis as soon as he got diagnosed with CKD. It was discovered that he was already in the late stages of the disease and required immediate action. This personal experience, along with many other CKD patients, is exactly why he is advocating for everyone to get their kidneys checked regularly.
Abacan stated that there are two primary tests to check if you are at risk for CKD. The first one is the Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (uACR) test that uses a urine sample to measure albumin, or protein level present in your urine; Second is the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eFGR), a blood test that measures the waste called creatinine in your blood.4
Coming to terms with a life-threatening and financially draining condition such as CKD can affect you, your loved ones, and others you encounter in your daily life in school or at work. It can be difficult to open up about your fears and frustrations to people, even the ones who are close to you. However, organizations such as Dialysis PH will greatly help you ease the burden of CKD, and it will also teach you how to communicate your feelings and concerns to your loved ones.
You can watch the whole interview here. This material was developed with support from Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines), Inc.
1Department of Health. Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention and Control. https://doh.gov.ph/health-programs/chronic-kidney-disease-prevention-and-control/policies. Accessed Jan 5, 2024.
2ABS-CBN News. 7 million Filipinos have chronic kidney disease - expert. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/02/23/7-million-filipinos-have-chronic-kidney-disease-expert. Accessed Apr 22, 2024.
3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease Basics. https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/basics.html#:~:text=CKD%20is%20a%20condition%20in,More%20than%201%20in%207. Accessed Mar 7, 2024.
4National Health Service. Chronic Kidney Disease Diagnosis. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/diagnosis/. Accessed Mar 7, 2024
This is a paid press release from Boehringer Philippines.
