World Kidney Day focuses on women’s health
HSA nurses check patients’ cholesterol levels
(CNS Local Life): The Health Services Authority (HSA) recently marked World Kidney Day by offering free health screenings of factors that indicate risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The theme for this year’s event, “Kidneys & Women’s Health – Include, Value, Empower”, underlined that the risk of developing CKD may be higher in women than in men and that kidney disease is also linked to pregnancy.
World Kidney Day and International Women’s Day were both celebrated on 8 March, offering the opportunity to highlight the importance of women’s health and particularly their kidney health, stated an HSA press release.
The latest numbers show that CKD affects approximately 195 million women worldwide, making it the eighth leading cause of death in women, at 600,000 fatalities each year. CKD is more likely to develop in women than men, with an average 14 percent compared to 12 percent, respectively. Women are also more often affected by certain kinds of kidney disease such as lupus nephritis (a caused by an autoimmune disease) and pyelonephritis (kidney infection).
Women who have CKD during pregnancy are at increased risk of negative outcomes that can affect their babies; pregnancies in women with advanced CKD are most challenging. Additionally, pregnancy-related complications increase the risk of kidney disease; women who had preeclampsia are at four-to-five times increased risk of developing end-stage kidney disease.
It is therefore crucial that we encourage and facilitate higher awareness, timely diagnosis and proper follow up of CKD in pregnancy, said the HSA. In turn, pregnancy may be also a valuable occasion for early diagnosis of CKD, allowing planning of therapeutic interventions.
The free health screenings that the HSA offered on the day covered weight, height, total cholesterol, glucose levels, HbA1C (for those with high glucose) and blood pressure. These checks are key indicators of persons who are at risk of chronic kidney disease.
Erlin McLeod, HSA dialysis unit nurse manager, noted the impact the event had on members of the community, women in particular. “I am pleased to announce that we screened a total of 100 patients with 28 patients seen by our onsite physician, Dr Imilla Sedano, and 26 patients seen by our onsite dietician, Simone Sheehan,” she said.
“Among these patients, 43 were women. We want to encourage women in particular to take the time out to learn more about their kidneys and to take advantage of screening opportunities. Education of women protects both their health and their children’s health. Kidney disease can be treated. The earlier you know you have it, the better your chances of receiving effective treatment.”
Category: Medical and Health
