Monday, December 24, 2012

Are Your Kidneys at Risk?

Do you know what your kidneys can do for you?
  • Filter toxins and excess fluid (cleaning the blood)
  • Helps in the making of red blood cells
  • Blood pressure regulator
  • Bone strength preserver
What are some of the risk factors contributing to kidney failure?
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Kidney stones
  • Nephritis (inflammation of the kidney)
  • Family history
  • Drugs
Do you know what are the signs and symptoms if they are present?
  • Tiredness
  • Reduce appetite, anorexia
  • Swelling of the legs / face
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Skin changes (pigmentation, itchiness)
  •  Breathlessness on exertion
  • Anaemia (lack of red blood cells)
Why do you need to restrict  your protein intake?
  • This is to prevent the accumulation of waste products in the body
  • Reducing the dietary protein intake can help to reduce the workload on the already failing kidney and thus delay further kidney damage.
  • Reduction of high protein intake is also associated with the reduction of phosphate, which then helps to preserve the bone composition.

Source - Fresenius Kabi

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