Doc Spot with Dr. Greenspan: Get to know your Kidney - Don’t miss the chance!
By Dr. Lorne Greenspan, Senior Medical Consultant
Until it was brought to my attention by one of my administrative colleagues I was unaware that March is Kidney Awareness month.
Let’s begin with some sobering information. According to a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), close to 38,000 Canadians were living with kidney failure in 2009—more than triple the number (11,000) living with the disease in 1990.
I started to reflect on my encounters with patients and realized how infrequently we discuss concerns or address issues of kidney function. It illustrates that unless something is amiss there are certain conditions or diseases that remain below the radar screen.
How many people actually know what purposes the kidney serves? Its principle action is to filter out metabolic garbage so that we have a purified system. However, it also regulates our bodies water, calcium, sodium (salt), potassium levels, regulates the production of red blood cells and helps control our blood pressure. Therefore any type of compromise to kidney function may lead to serious health consequences.
As part of your annual Comprehensive Health Assessment all of these components are evaluated through blood and urine lab tests, blood pressure measurements and ultrasound to ensure that there are no oversights.
What can you do to ensure long term kidney health?
- Ensure that you have a normal blood pressure - High blood pressure may cause kidney damage or reflect kidney malfunction.
- Control your salt intake - Realize that you may like the taste of salt but it is damaging to your health. You should limit your sodium intake to no more than 2 grams per day.
- Drink at least 6 glasses of water daily - Water can assist in the clearance of debris.
- If you are diabetic - be vigilant and active in regulating your blood sugar levels. A known complication of diabetes is diminished kidney function.
- Correct abnormal cholesterol - Altered blood flow to the kidney may lead to problems.
Preserving your kidney function is a partnership between your behaviour and your kidneys. You have an obligation to honour that. Our team at Medcan will assist you at your annual health examination to ensure that you are on the healthy pathway.
To book your Comprehensive Health Assessment at the Medcan Clinic please call 416-350-5900 or email bookings@medcan.com.