Warning on 'drinking plenty of water' for kidney health!

Aydın Provincial Health Directorate, pointing out that 3.2 percent of deaths in Turkey are caused by kidney failure, has issued a call for "drinking plenty of water" to protect kidney health.

Aydın Provincial Health Directorate drew attention to the importance of chronic kidney disease on World Kidney Day, which is observed on the second Thursday of March each year.

While the prevalence of chronic kidney disease, which is accepted as a significant public health problem worldwide, is increasing day by day, it requires kidney failure and dialysis treatments in the future. While it is observed that 3.2 percent of deaths in Turkey are caused by kidney failure, the Provincial Health Directorate issued a call for 'drinking plenty of water' to protect kidney health in a statement.

"MORE THAN 3 MILLION PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVES EVERY YEAR"

The statement from the Aydın Provincial Health Directorate included the following: "Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), which progresses with progressive and irreversible loss of the kidney's metabolic and hormonal functions, is accepted as a significant public health problem in the world and in our country due to its increasing frequency, causing complications and fatal conditions, reducing quality of life, and requiring high-cost treatment practices such as dialysis and kidney transplantation. According to studies, more than 850 million people worldwide are affected by CKD, and more than 3 million people lose their lives due to CKD every year. Almost 3 percent of the annual health budgets of high-income countries are related to the costs of dialysis and kidney transplantation. When the 2022 death and cause of death statistics prepared by the Turkish Statistical Institute are examined, it is seen that 3.2 percent of deaths in our country are caused by kidney failure. Although the distribution of the causes leading to CKD varies according to country, race, age, and gender, the most common underlying causes are obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. A similar trend exists in Turkey, and the frequency of chronic kidney disease is higher in those with hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Therefore, combating these diseases and risk factors is the primary method of protection in preventing chronic kidney diseases or stopping their progression."

"EAT HEALTHY, DRINK SUFFICIENT WATER, REDUCE SALT CONSUMPTION..."

The statement, which emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and effective treatment, continued: "Furthermore, early diagnosis, effective treatment, and monitoring processes are the most important steps in the fight to stop the progression of these diseases and prevent the development of new diseases associated with them. To protect your kidney health, eat healthy, drink sufficient water, reduce salt consumption, stay away from tobacco, tobacco products, and alcohol, and stay active. To protect yourself from chronic kidney disease, consult your family physician to have your risk assessment done regularly and periodically, and use your medications by consulting your physician and as recommended. On this occasion, we wish you a healthy life. In this direction, our Ministry is conducting the 'Turkey Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Program' to increase social awareness, establish early diagnosis and treatment standards for kidney diseases, and reduce the disease burden within the scope of efforts to prevent/control chronic kidney diseases and risk factors. Within the scope of the Disease Management Platform (HYP) application, 'hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk assessment' modules have already started to be used by family physicians, and the Chronic Kidney Disease Module will be opened for use by family physicians following the pilot application to be carried out this year."

News Source: İHA