ANTIQUE – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) continues to advocate for a healthy lifestyle to avoid diseases, especially of the kidneys, as the country observes National Kidney Month this June.
Medical Specialist II Dr. Cara J. Uy of the Antique PHO stressed observing healthy lifestyle habits, such as diet modification and regular exercise, to protect oneself from diseases.
Consuming more water and plant-based food, reducing the intake of fatty and salty foods, and moving more are good for the kidneys, which remove waste products and balance the body’s fluids, among other functions, Uy added.
The physician then stressed the importance of regular consultations. Symptoms of kidney diseases for some individuals, she said, only appear at the advanced stage, where treatment and medication are more complex and difficult.
For extreme cases of kidney diseases, patients are left with no other option but to undergo dialysis, which requires a hefty sum of financial resources to sustain. However, free dialysis services may also be availed from public hospitals such as the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital (ASMGH) and Culasi District Hospital (CHD).
Some 989 dialysis patients were recorded in ASMGH and 556 in CHD, as per the 2022 Dialysis Patient Census.
Dr. Uy added that kidney disease is a tagged-along condition with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that may be avoided, excluding the family history factor, through a healthy lifestyle; hence, their year-round effort to advocate for the prevention of such diseases through various information, education, and communication campaigns in communities and even social media platforms.
National Kidney Month is observed every June to amplify awareness of the risks of kidney diseases, encourage early diagnosis, and promote a healthy lifestyle for preventing and managing this health condition.
With the theme “Bato’y Alagaan Para Handa sa Kinabukasan,” National Kidney Month 2023 intends to highlight the significance and important functions of kidneys in the human body.
Acknowledging the ill effects on health, Dr. Uy urged the public to forgo vices such as drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking cigarettes, and even using electronic cigars or vaping, noting that June is also observed as No Smoking Month. (PIA Antique)/PN
