By Safia Abdulrahman
A medical doctor at a Dei-Dei hospital in Abuja, Dr Ummusalma Faruk, has urged Nigerians to pay closer attention to their lifestyle and dietary habits to general health, warning that several preventable risk factors could increase the risk of kidney disease and eventual kidney failure.
She made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
Faruk said conditions such as uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes, unhealthy diet, obesity, physical inactivity and inappropriate use of medications could place the kidneys under prolonged strain.
She stressed the importance of regular health checks and early detection, adding that “kidney disease could develop without obvious symptoms in its early stages.
“Nigerians should adopt healthier lifestyles, reduce excessive salt intake, maintain healthy body weight, exercise regularly and avoid self-medication, particularly indiscriminate use of medicines that could damage the kidneys.”
She advised people with hypertension or diabetes to ensure that the conditions were properly controlled, as prolonged poor control could increase the risk of kidney damage.
She emphasised that prevention and early intervention remained critical to reducing the number of Nigerians who eventually require dialysis or kidney transplantation.
NAN reports that there is rising concerns over the burden of kidney disease in Nigeria and the challenges patients face in accessing and sustaining treatment.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
