TOMORROW is World Kidney Day, and Kidney Health Australia is urging everyone to find out early if they are at risk of kidney disease, before symptoms appear.
Three in four Australians are at risk of kidney disease, according to the organisation, with the highest contributing factors being diabetes and high blood pressure.
Ninety percent of kidney function can be lost without symptoms, and this absence of symptoms can mean that kidney disease is often not diagnosed until it is too late to avoid kidney failure.
At this point, treatment options involve either dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive, and recent research has found that chronic kidney disease is on trend to become the fifth leading cause of death worldwide by 2050, up from ninth in 2019, and 18th in 1990.
However, while there is no cure, early detection can slow or stop the progression of this deadly disease.
"Early detection is the key to stopping kidney disease in its tracks, and it starts with a simple two-minute online risk test," said Kidney Health Australia CEO Chris Forbes, pointing out that an estimated 1.8 million Australians are unaware they have kidney disease.
"This World Kidney Day, we urge every Australian to take the test, because knowing your risk today could save your life tomorrow."
MEANWHILE, Dr Adrian Sheen, inventor of the Widdleometer (PD 26 Oct 2023), has reminded pharmacists that men can use the device to detect slow urine flow - an early warning signs of kidney disease - in the comfort and privacy of their own home.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate, is a significant risk to kidney function.
Decreased male hormone levels, especially testosterone, associated with BPH, can lead to a significant reduction in kidney function, and the common BPH symptom of urinary retention can cause backflow of urine to the kidneys, causing kidney scarring.
"We know that an enlarged prostate can impact our kidneys, so being proactive is the key to avoiding kidney complications," Dr Sheen said.
"The Widdleometer is something you can use on a daily or weekly basis to ensure your urine flow is in top shape, and indicate whether it is worth visiting your GP to check if there are any issues."
Customers can find the test at kidney.org.au/kidneyrisktest, while the Widdleometer is sold in selected pharmacies. KB
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