Doctors warn that kidney disease is becoming younger, young people need to pay more attention to their health - Photo: THU HIEN
Vietnam faces two waves of kidney failure
Admitted to Thong Nhat Hospital (HCMC) in a state of emergency kidney failure, Mr. TN (40 years old) did not think that although he was young, he had end-stage kidney failure.
Unable to find a kidney for a transplant, he has to undergo dialysis three days a week.
"I have never had a regular health check-up since I was a child. When I got sick, I never thought that I would have kidney failure at such a young age while being the breadwinner of the family and having to raise 3 small children," N. confided.
According to statistics from the artificial kidney department of Cho Ray Hospital, the hospital has received and treated 450 patients on regular dialysis.
Of these, about 60 patients are under 35 years old (15%), most of whom come in the final stage.
Associate Professor Nguyen Bach - Head of the Department of Artificial Kidney, Thong Nhat Hospital - said that most patients who first discover kidney failure go to the hospital for emergency dialysis.
It is worth mentioning that kidney disease is currently becoming younger, many patients aged 16-17 have kidney failure and need dialysis. Although it is a geriatric hospital, the current rate of kidney failure in children at Thong Nhat Hospital is 20%, while in some other hospitals it can be up to 60-70%.
"Every time I interact with international delegations visiting some dialysis centers, their first reflex is to ask why so many young Vietnamese people have to undergo dialysis like this? In Japan, kidney disease in young people has been "eliminated" since 1990.
The reason they have a national screening program is by going to schools to screen for kidney disease, urine tests if there are abnormalities will be sent to the center for experts to evaluate and find a treatment direction.
Currently, countries are mainly "eliminating" kidney failure due to diabetes and high blood pressure. We are facing two waves: kidney failure in young people and kidney failure in people with diabetes and high blood pressure," said Dr. Bach.
How to prevent kidney failure?
Explaining the cause, Dr. Bach said that young people today are very subjective about kidney failure in their eating, living, and indiscriminate use of drugs and chemicals.
It is worth mentioning that many people with kidney failure are "wrongly" diagnosed because when they get sick, they buy medicine without seeing a doctor or taking prescriptions from a doctor, or they take oriental medicine of unknown origin.
"World Kidney Day sends out the message that to prevent kidney disease, start your day by drinking 300ml of filtered water. This is also one of the 8 golden rules to prevent kidney disease.
At the same time, while urinating, pay attention to the color of your urine. If your urine is unusually red, you need to see a doctor immediately. If your urine is yellow, you are not drinking enough water," Dr. Bach recommends.
8 golden rules to prevent kidney disease
Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control says there are 8 golden principles to prevent kidney disease:
1. Exercise: This can help maintain ideal body weight, reduce blood pressure and the risk of chronic kidney disease.
2. Eat healthy: Helps maintain ideal body weight, prevents high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and other conditions related to chronic kidney disease.
3. Control blood sugar: About half of people with diabetes develop kidney damage, but this can be prevented or limited if diabetes is well controlled.
4. Control blood pressure: High blood pressure can damage the kidneys.
5. Drink enough water: Generally, about 2 liters of water per day for a healthy person in a pleasant climate. Note that fluid intake may need to be adjusted if you have kidney, heart or liver disease.
6. Don't smoke: Smoking slows blood flow to the kidneys. When less blood reaches the kidneys, it can reduce their ability to function properly. Smoking also increases the risk of kidney cancer by about 50%.
7. Don't take anti-inflammatory/painkillers regularly: Common medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen) can be harmful to the kidneys if taken regularly.
8. Check kidney function if you have one or more high risk factors: these factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, family history of kidney disease.
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