Kidney Disease Affecting Over 150,000 Jamaicans. 6 Causes Of Kidney Disease

Minister of Health Christopher Tufton is concerned about the number of Jamaicans being affected by some form of kidney disease.

According to the Minister, up to 150,000 Jamaicans are afflicted. Some cases includes those in the early stages of the disease, and in some instances at the end stage when dialysis is required.

According to Loop News, the Minister was responding to questions posed by Opposition members, including Central Kingston representative, Reverend Ronald Thwaites, in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The Government is “very concerned about the numbers”, and as such, has been working on a list of things to address the issues, “starting with prevention, because what we’re advocating now is how do we make curative treatment methods more affordable…,” he said.

Tufton added that the Government is also looking to expand the kidney transplant programme. Tufton pointed out that those who access treatment in the private sector are forced to fork out up to $80,000 per week.

Dr. A Malgwi~ HERE ARE THE TOP 6 CAUSE OF KIDNEY DISEASE:

1. Delaying going to a toilet. Keeping your urine in your bladder for too long is a bad idea. A full bladder can cause bladder damage. The urine that stays in the bladder multiplies bacteria quickly. Once the urine refluxes back to the ureter and kidneys, the toxic substances can result in kidney infections, then urinary tract infections, and then nephritis, and even uremia. When nature calls – do it as soon as possible.

2. Eating too much salt. You should eat no more than 5.8 grams of salt daily.

3. Eating too much meat. Too much protein in your diet is harmful for your kidneys. Protein digestion produces ammonia – a toxn that is very destructive to your kidneys. More meat equals more kidney damage.

4. Drinking too much caffeine. Caffeine is a component of many sodas and soft drinks. It raises your blood pressure and your kidneys start suffering. So you should cut down the amount of coke you drink daily.5. Not drinking water. Our kidneys should be hydrated properly to perform their functions well. If we don’t drink enough, the toxins can start accumulating in the blood, as there isn’t enough fluid to drain them through the kidneys. Drink more than 10 glasses of water daily. There is an easy way to check if you are drinking
enough water: look at the colour of your urine; the lighter the colour, the better.

6. Late treatment . Get yearly doctor check up. This will alert any medical illness