The Central Australia Health Service is promoting healthy kidneys during Kidney Health Week 5 - 11 March 2018.

Doctor Cherian Sajiv, Head of Nephrology in Alice Springs Hospital and Director of NT Renal Services said that chronic kidney disease is a significant and growing public health issue. It is often a ‘silent disease’ as there are often no warning signs and a person can sometimes lose up to 90 per cent of their kidney function before experiencing any symptoms.

“It is vitally important that you get a Kidney Health Check if you have one or more risk factors for chronic kidney disease,” he said.

“There are many lifestyle factors that can contribute to chronic kidney disease, such as not eating a varied diet with fresh fruit and vegetables, drinking too much alcohol, not drinking enough water and having too much salt in the diet.”

Kidney disease can be prevented, by getting a Kidney Health Check with your local doctor or kidney specialist.

The Kidney Health Check has three tests:

•      A blood test to find out the level of waste products in your blood and calculate what’s called your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

•      A urine test to check for albumin (a type of protein) or blood in your urine.

•      A blood pressure test, as kidney disease causes high blood pressure and high blood pressure in turn causes kidney disease.

The Kidney Health Check is offered to people with any of the following risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, established cardiovascular disease, family history of kidney failure, obesity, smoking and if they are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin aged over 30 years.

“If kidney disease is suspected, your doctor may organise additional tests, such as a ultrasound scan, which is done to show the size of your kidneys, locate kidney stones or tumours, and to look for any problems in the structure of your kidneys and urinary tract.

Contact your local GP or health centre now to find out how you can get your kidneys checked.

Media Contact: Nicole Ogilvie 0401 114 113

Media note: Photo attached: L-R Caroline Hombarume, Hayley Connelly and Thuledu Ndivueni  from the Central Australia Health Service Renal Unit promoting Kidney Health at the Alice Springs Hospital