"Every day our Federal Parliament sits our elected
representatives process 45,200 litres of blood.'
Kidney Health Australia is using the upcoming World Kidney Day
this Thursday to urge politicians to keep their Kidneys healthy and
be aware of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) known as the 'silent
killer'. .
Kidney Health Australia said that 1 in 3 members of every
political party is at increased risk of developing CKD and 1 in 7
members has at least one clinical sign of existing CKD.
Anne Wilson CEO of Kidney Health Australia said,
Chronic
Kidney Disease is known as the silent killer as a person can lose up
to 90% of the use of their kidney without knowing it and kidney
failure is associated with 11.3% of all deaths in Australia.
Surveys made before the advent of World Kidney Day have shown
that less than 5% of the general population knows where the kidneys
are located and what their function is.* Source: International
Federation of Kidney Foundations.
This year's theme for World Kidney Day is Amazing
Kidneys which is aimed at highlighting the function of the
kidney and the amazing feat it carries out with every adult's
kidneys processing 200 litres of blood every day or 73,000 litres a
year - twice the size of an average backyard swimming pool.
Every day our Federal Parliament sits our elected
representatives between them process 45,200 litres of blood and 165
million litres annually.
The Press Gallery with 240 journalists process 48,000 litres
of blood a day and 175 million litres annually.
Ms Wilson said, "Chronic Kidney Disease is difficult to find but
once diagnosed is treatable and the challenge facing health
authorities worldwide is to devise cost effective screening programs
of high risk patients to reduce suffering, maximise the impact on
the health budget and reduce numbers of people entering kidney
failure.
Approximately 2 million Australians may be affected by
early-stage kidney disease and don't know it. Early stage kidney
disease is common, harmful and treatable!
Media Enquiries:
Anne Wilson, CEO Kidney Health Australia
Mobile: 0400 165 391
Dr Tim Mathew, Medical Director Kidney
Health Australia Mobile: 0416 149 863
Ron Smith Media
Communications Kidney Health Australia Mobile: 0417 329 201
Kidney Survival Tips
LIMIT ALCOHOL
Excessive alcohol intake can lead to
heart disease and high blood pressure, increasing the risk of kidney
disease.
Tips to cut down on your alcohol intake:
Limit alcohol to two standard drinks per day for men, and one
per day for women.
Ask for ice with your drinks - when the ice melts it will dilute
alcohol.
Alternate your drinks by having a glass of water in between each
alcoholic drink.
If you want to feel like you're partaking in a drinking session,
fake it - drink your water from a wine glass.
SMOKING
If you don't smoke, don't start. If
you do, quit! This is the simplest, most important lifestyle
habit to change to reduce the risk of kidney disease.
People who smoke are three times more likely to have reduced
kidney function, and have a four to five times greater risk of heart
attack and stroke.
CHECK YOUR RISK-
Try this quick quiz to assess
whether you are at risk of kidney disease.
Tick if you:
0 Are
diabetic
0 Have high blood pressure
0 Have a family history of
kidney disease
0 Are over 50
0 Are a smoker
0 Are of
Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander descent
If you answered YES to one or more of the above then you
are at risk of kidney disease.
What should you do?
Visit your local doctor today and
ask for a Kidney Performance test.
This test can include a:
Blood pressure test
Blood test
Urine test
Lifestyle assessment guidelines
Performance-testing your kidneys will help keep your kidneys
in top gear!
www.kidney.org.au
