HEALTHY REASONING: Are You Taking Care Of Your Kidneys?

By Allan Jones
Pride Health Columnist

The two kidneys we have are the body’s key filtering system. They remove toxins from the body by separating waste products and water from the blood. Unfortunately due to many situations, some genetic, many due to our lifestyle, the kidneys can be damaged and their function become compromised or they cease functioning completely.

The Black community has a disproportionately high rate of diabetes and high blood pressure. Both illnesses are at epidemic levels and increasing. Combined, diabetes and high blood pressure account for two-third or 66% of the problems encountered by the kidneys. So many of us end up with chronic kidney disease, and some will move on to end-stage renal disease and in need of dialysis.

The kidneys are very forgiving organs, so you can lose significant functioning and still feel good. So if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, it is important to have a kidney function test every year when you do your annual examinations, because you may be moving to a situation of complete loss of kidney function and do not know. The good news is that not everyone with chronic kidney disease will progress to a complete loss of kidney function or end-stage renal disease.

There are approaches that will improve your ability to keep the kidneys functioning, and allow you to maintain a good quality of life: First of all, have an understanding of the situation you are in and manage the process. Be proactive in seeking information and cultivate a good rapport with your kidney specialist or family doctor; good blood pressure control is key for good kidney health. Know the blood pressure target levels set by your doctor, and take your medications at the times suggested by your physician, and cut down or eliminate salt from your diet; maintain good blood sugar levels if you are diabetic or have pre-diabetes. Diabetes can lead to significant kidney problems and also predispose you to high blood pressure. Take your medications and/or insulin at the prescribed times; a well-balanced diet is important for good kidney health. Ask your doctor to recommend you to a dietician who is familiar with the foods you eat; get some physical activity at least four times a week for at least 45 minutes each day. You do not have to go to a gym. Walking helps. Exercise also helps with weight control, which is a key element in maintaining good kidney health; if you are a smoker stop smoking; if you are anemic, try to maintain normal blood count; drinking alcohol is bad for kidney health. Stop drinking alcohol or reduce the intake to only two drinks per day.

There are agencies out there to help with the managing kidney disease, especially for Black people. The African Caribbean Kidney Association (ACKA), focuses on kidney disease prevention, and helps those who have acquired the disease to live a better quality of life through a holistic approach to health. The group is led by pharmacist Dr. Remi Ojo, who can be reached at president@acka.ca. The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Ontario Branch in Mississauga, has for many years been the main agency to promote good kidney health and support Canadians with kidney disease. You can reach their Mississauga office at 905.278.3003 or www.kidney.ca/ontario.

I welcome the formation of The African Caribbean Kidney Association, because it again highlights what I have been advocating in this column, the need for a diversity approach to health care in Canada. For example, diet is such an important component to maintaining kidney health, especially once you have been diagnosed with kidney disease, and we need an approach to therapy that takes into consideration the African and West Indian/Caribbean diet.

We need to become politically astute and ensure health care issues are in the minds of the politicians who say they will represent us, and is asking for our vote. How can they represent us when little or no attention is being paid to a diversity approach to health care? 

Allan Jones is a Health Promoter and Broadcaster. He can be heard on “Allan Bucka Jones LIVE”, Sundays from 3 to 5pm on CHRY 105.5 FM, www.chry.fm, Rogers Digital Cable 945, Bell Fibe 973 or mobile app TuneIn Radio. You can contact Allan Jones at ajones@jjmedical.ca.