Today is World Kidney Day.
It’s encouraging people to learn more about their kidney, speak to their doctors and be aware of risk factors of kidney disease.
Keri MacIvor is Development Coordinator for The Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Nova Scotia branch.
MacIvor says it’s known as the “silent disease” because many times people have lost 50 per cent of their kidney function and don’t realize.
She says that’s why they are encouraging people to talk to their doctors and to be tested.
“Once your kidneys have started to fail, you maybe have to go on dialysis, and dialysis is a life-long thing,” she says.
“So once you start dialysis there is no stopping it, unless of course you do receive a transplant.”
MacIvor says diabetes and high blood pressure are two of the main risk factors.
She says healthy eating, exercise and lots of water are some ways to help prevent or slow down kidney disease.
It’s also a fact women are more likely to develop kidney disease than men.
It affects roughly 923 women in Nova Scotia alone.
MacIvor, says women are more affected than men with certain types of kidney disease.
She says pregnancy complications, like post-partum hemorrhage and infection of the placenta, can increase the risk of acute kidney injury.
“A lot of the times they actually do suggset to plan the pregnancy with their nephrologist so that they can monitor it a bit closer, too.”
MacIvor says every day 15 people across Canada are diagnosed with Kidney Disease.
To hear more on World Kidney Day, and chronic kidney disease, listen to South Shore Sunday Morning this week.
