Ghana Independent Healthcare Consultants

22/12/2019

24/08/2019

https://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Media_Center/docs/pdf/PortailAMR/EN_OIE-AMRstrategy.pdf

02/08/2019

20 Things That Are Actually Damaging Kidneys

16. Not addressing infections

A kidney infection is very painful. And it takes a long time to recover from. Your doctor will prescribe medication to cure kidneys that don’t favor taking medication. It becomes a vicious cycle and getting a kidney infection to clear up may take some time. In the meantime, you’ll be left feeling uncomfortable and in pain.

The quicker you recognize a kidney infection and deal with it; the easier and quicker your recovery will be. In most cases, a kidney infection is caused by a bladder infection. So, if you have a bladder infection, seek treatment before it spreads to your kidneys.

There are several signs and symptoms to look out for. Often, a kidney infection presents with similar symptoms of a bladder infection. You may experience a burning sensation when you urinate, and a constant ‘need to go’ to the toilet although you’ve just been. You’ll find yourself urinating more frequently. Your urine will be cloudy and have a distinct smell to it. Blood or pus in the urine is another sure sign that you have a kidney infection. You may feel feverish, and the kidney area will be very sensitive.

The longer you leave a kidney infection untreated, the more potential it has to cause permanent damage to your kidneys. Even viral infections in other parts of the body such as the flu can harm your kidneys.

Left untreated, such infections spread quickly, and the virus can attack the kidneys. When you have an infection, rest is essential for your recovery. Not resting makes your organs work harder to function normally and fight the infection off. The strain on your organs, such as the kidneys, can result in lasting damage that will affect your kidney function. This can be debilitating.

https://medical-news.org/10-things-actually-damaging-kidneys/1595/16/

01/08/2019

20 Things That Are Actually Damaging Kidneys

15. Exposure to Contrast Dyes commonly used in Imaging

When you go for the blood test, doctors conduct an imaging test to examine your blood vessels. They inject into the blood vessels a chemical called a contrast dye. This is used in cases such as in CT scan with contrast, coronary or heart x-ray. This enables the doctors to see specifically where there is a blocked blood vessel. Furthermore, they can see other problems in the other organs.

It is a procedure that is very significant for diagnosis. It will be impossible to see exactly your problem if it’s not done. They use the dye to see what they will be treating you for. However, this dye can have serious implications to the kidneys. The effect of this dye is referred to as an induced nephropathy.

Studies indicate that between 1% and 3% of individuals who receive this dye, their kidneys are affected by it. Everyone is prone to it but the greatest risk falls on those with the chronic kidney disease. If you have diabetes, the elderly and chronic heart failure, you risk having your kidneys affected. Although induced nephropathy is rare, you can prevent it from happening. It is vital for your doctors to check your kidneys before undergoing radiology procedures. This should be done even to those who don’t have any kidney problems.

There are various ways you can prevent this from affecting your kidneys. Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor to measure your kidney function. By ensuring that you strictly follow the instructions about drinking fluids before going for the tests will help you. Don’t delay to find out from the doctor when it would be suitable to stop taking certain painkillers.

There are some drugs that can cause the kidney problems by reducing the blood flow to the kidneys. Contrast dye also decreases the kidney blood flow and these medications should not be used together. The kidneys are the unsung heroes of the human body. Without them, we can’t survive. It’s important to make the right decisions when it comes to the foods we eat and the lifestyles we lead, in order to allow them to function correctly.

https://medical-news.org/10-things-actually-damaging-kidneys/1595/15/

31/07/2019

Alcohol is a very common beverage consumed worldwide and in Ghana. It is estimated that 23.3% of Ghanaians take alcohol, and of these a projected 2.1% were found to be engaging in heavy drinking. It is served at most social events and as a away to de-stress after a long day at work. Alcohol is also....

29/07/2019

20 Things That Are Actually Damaging Kidneys

13. High Purine Fish

Fish is a favorite food for most people. It is a great source of the nutrients that are required by the body. However, some of the fish such as sardines have a high content of purines. Purines can be hazardous to the kidneys when taken in high amounts.

The sardines have a high content of purine. This later develops into uric acid in the urine and as a result, form the uric acid stones. Therefore, purine-rich foods may cause calcium oxalate stone in your body.

If you are at higher risk of getting uric acid stones, the compounds can harm your body. A high level of purine can increase the amount of uric acid in the urine. This leads to the development of uric acid stones. This condition can be painful and will require immediate medical attention.

According to the study done by the American Urological Association, they linked intake of purine to health problems. When you take the high amount of purine from fish such as sardines it can lead to hyperruricemia and hyperuricosuria in healthy individuals without stones. They went further and associated purine-rich foods with stimulation of calcium oxalate. They explained that this was due to an increasing amount of calcium that was excreted.

The good thing is that sardines are the greatest source of essential omega-3 fatty acids. These acids are important to your well-being. Finding a better source of omega-3 fatty acids can be challenging. They are able to avoid contamination from some compounds such as mercury which is toxic to your body.

If you like sardines, you need to limit eating them to once or twice a week. There are other purine-rich foods available including anchovies, organ meats, bacon, scallops, shrimp and baker’s yeast. These type of foods should be avoided if you stand a higher risk of getting the kidney problems.

https://medical-news.org/10-things-actually-damaging-kidneys/1595/13/

29/07/2019

20 Things That Are Actually Damaging Kidneys

12. Excess Painkillers
It’s normal to take the painkillers whenever you are feeling pain. Most people take these painkillers without realizing the long-term side effects that they can cause. In what is called an analgesic, it’s any medicine that is taken to relieve you of pain. Over the counter, analgesics include aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. These medicines are not dangerous to the body when taken moderately due to your medical condition.

However, they can become dangerous to your kidneys if taken over a long period. An increased amount can be fatal to the kidneys especially when taken over an extended period of time. This occurs when you have a chronic problem that requires the drugs to be taken in. It is a challenge when there is a medical condition that will leave you with no other choice.

Most of the medicines that can potentially cause the kidney damage is excreted through the kidneys. This happens because the liver does not break them. It is the same when waste products are passed out through urine. Analgesic has been linked to two types of kidney damage. They can cause acute a renal failure and chronic kidney disease known as analgesic nephropathy.

However, these kidney problems normally happen when you are taking high amounts and over an extended period. For instance, research has shown that the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause kidney problems. It’s believed that 3 percent of chronic kidney diseases each year are caused by taking too many of these drugs such as ibuprofen. This applies to the over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

These drugs can become harmful to your kidneys if improperly taken. It’s important to consult your doctor for the prescription or don’t take more than one packaging. Taking more than one package will encourage you to take in more than the required dose.

https://medical-news.org/10-things-actually-damaging-kidneys/1595/12/

27/07/2019

20 Things That Are Actually Damaging Kidneys

11. Vegetables

The vegetables are an important part of getting a healthy diet. They contain the necessary nutrients for your body to function well. However, too much of these nutrients can be harmful. There are a few fruits and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, beet green, yam and brown mushrooms which have high amounts of potassium.

The kidneys are capable of managing your normal potassium levels. However, they are not to do that with the extreme levels of potassium. The amount of potassium in the blood is normally low when compared to that within the various cells in the body.

When the amount of potassium builds up in your body, they lead to a high concentration level in the blood. The high levels of potassium in your body can cause the cell damage, metabolic and kidney problems. In some cases, it can result in the irregular heartbeats and even the heart can stop working.

The symptoms of the high levels of potassium are not easy to be seen. When they happen, unfortunately, it will mean that the potassium is already at a significantly high level. Some of the symptoms include muscular weakness that may lead to paralysis. The amount of potassium can only be determined when you go for a medical check-up with your doctor. However, it may go unnoticed if you don’t go for a regular medical check-up.

Those who already have a kidney problem, this is a routine test. It is checked if you have a medical condition that may result in raised potassium. If you are taking specific drugs that can raise the level of potassium, you may be tested for it.

If you have bad kidneys, avoid excess amounts of bananas, raisins, prunes, collard greens, cantaloupe, tomatoes, potatoes, beet green, yam and brown mushrooms. These foods may worsen your condition.

https://medical-news.org/10-things-actually-damaging-kidneys/1595/11/

25/07/2019

20 Things That Are Actually Damaging Kidneys

10. Low Fluid Intake

Our bodies are made up of roughly 60% water. Fluid is important for many reasons, including the delivery of nutrients around through the blood, the replacement of fluid lost through sweating and to help many chemical reactions that happen in our body. The human body can’t store water, and as such it must be replaced daily. Most mature adults can lose almost 3 ltrs a day, so it’s important to stay hydrated. Signs of dehydration include dark urine headaches, tiredness and lack of concentration. But on the other end of the scale, excessive fluid can be just as harmful.

In a study published by Circulation, it was discovered that excessive fluid intake can increase morbidity and mortality in stage 5 CKD patients, and greater fluid retention in those patients was linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular death. Though it may seem hard to ingest too much fluid, it’s inclusive of all beverages, foods with a high-water content, and soups. It’s also worthy of note that almost all foods contain fluids, with some fruits and vegetables being approximately 90% fluid.

Some people require a higher fluid intake than others, including those on a high protein or high fiber diet, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people who are very physically active, or who are exposed to warmer conditions than most.

Drinking too much water can cause hyponatremia, also known as water intoxication. It’s rare, but it can occur when large amounts of water are consumed in a short time frame. When this happens, the kidneys cannot excrete enough fluid in order to properly filter and flush out the water. Hyponatraemia can lead to headaches and blurred visions, convulsion, swelling of the brain and possible death, though you’d need to consume many liters in a very short period of time for this to happen.

The kidneys are the unsung heroes of the human body. Without them, we can’t survive. It’s important to make the right decisions when it comes to the foods we eat and the lifestyles we lead, in order to allow them to function correctly.

https://medical-news.org/10-things-actually-damaging-kidneys/1595/10/

25/07/2019

20 Things That Are Actually Damaging Kidneys

9. Genetically Modified Foods
GMOs (Genetically modified organisms/food) are products of modern biotechnological constructs and organisms whose DNA has been modified in a way that would not occur naturally. Though this might sound similar to Frankenstein’s monster, it’s generally to allow the best parts of various foods to be crossed over from one organism to another, or between non-related species.

The benefits of GMOs include better food taste and quality and a longer shelf life, but because GMOs are still relatively new, there are some uncertainties in terms of what harm it could do to animals and humans. GMOs go through rigorous standards to ensure they’re safe for human consumption, and according to the FDA’s website, they are as safe to consume as non-genetically engineered foods.

However, more research is coming out that is shedding light on potential hazards of GMOs. A study conducted by Egyptian researchers found that rats given genetically-modified soy were found to have deadly amounts of toxicity in their kidneys, liver, blood and even DNA.

To avoid the potential risks with GMOs, aim to buy food labeled 100% organic. When buying meat, try to purchase 100% organic grass-fed, and organic eggs. Avoid processed food as much as possible, always read the labels, and ensure you know what you’re buying. It can be hard to avoid GMOs in this day and age, but with a little extra attention, you will be able to accomplish it.
https://medical-news.org/10-things-actually-damaging-kidneys/1595/8/