Kidney disease is a silent killer
How much do you know about your kidneys? Our kidneys act as internal
filters, assisting in the removal of waste and fluids from our bodies
through our urine. Kidneys are designed to balance salts and acids within
the body and produce hormones and enzymes to control blood pressure and
control the production of red blood cells. The kidneys play an essential
role in the body, but it can be hard to tell when they’re not functioning
properly and often the damage is well underway when blood tests show a
problem.
One in three Australians are at risk of developing kidney disease, which
occurs when the blood filters in the kidneys become damaged and excess salt
and fluids become trapped inside the body. There are often no symptoms,
which is why kidney disease is referred to as ‘silent’ and if untreated,
can lead to kidney failure and even premature death. In fact even mild
kidney failure increases your risk of a fatal heart attack. Symptoms of
serious kidney failure include nausea, vomiting, fluid overload, high blood
pressure and physical changes in the urine (such as blood and protein).
The commonest causes of kidney damage are high blood pressure and
diabetes although kidney failure can come on suddenly, due to serious
infection or a sudden loss of large quantities of blood such as in the case
of a serious accident. Patients with kidney failure may need a kidney
transplant or to undergo dialysis in order to recover. It’s possible to
live with only one kidney, as long as it is healthy and functions well.
People who donate a kidney to someone suffering with kidney disease or
kidney failure can continue to lead a normal life, although of course there
are risks involved.
Kidney function deteriorates as we get older, making regular GP checkups
essential. The earlier kidney disease is detected, the easier it is to make
lifestyle and medical changes to increase the life of your kidneys. Kidneys
belonging to a healthy body don’t have to work as hard as those belonging
to an unhealthy body, so you can look after your kidneys by looking after
the rest of you.
What you can do to keep your kidneys healthy:
Eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight and exercise (that helps
both your blood pressure and diabetes prevention)
If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control
Limit alcohol intake
Maintain a normal blood pressure – and if it’s high make sure you stick
to the treatment
Keep your cholesterol levels in check
Maintain regular checkups with your GP
Are super foods a super myth?
You may have heard of ‘super foods’ – they’ve claimed to help prevent
cancer, give you glowing skin, cure the common cold and aid in helping shed
pesky extra kilos, but how much of this is fact and how much is fiction?
Instead of looking for super foods as a super cure, why not look for foods
that offer added benefits of increased fibre, protein and vitamins? Here
are some ‘super’ choices when it comes to your diet:
Quinoa: High in protein, this seed is cooked in a similar way to rice or
cous cous and can also be cooked in milk with honey and cinnamon for a
different and delicious take on porridge.
Grapefruit: Like all citrus fruits, grapefruit has no fat or
cholesterol, and is also packed with vitamins A and C.
Lentils: Full of protein and carbohydrate, lentils are not only good for
you but they’ll keep you full for longer and have a low glycaemic index,
meaning they’re good for blood sugar levels too.
Berries: Packed with antioxidants and fibre, berries will help satisfy
sugar cravings due to their sweet taste. Strawberries are packed with folic
acid which aids in the production of red blood cells, and cranberries can
help combat urinary tract infections and aid digestion.
Ginger: This multifunctional root is said to lower cholesterol and can
be used as an anti-inflammatory.
Turmeric: In India, turmeric is widely valued for its medicinal
qualities. It is said to aid digestion and has antioxidant properties too –
which help to fend off dangerous free radicals in the body.
Note: If you are taking prescription medications talk to your doctor or
pharmacist before introducing grapefruit or cranberries into your diet, as
some prescription drugs can be affected by these fruits.
Good Health on the Menu
Pumpkin and Broccoli Quinoa Pilaf
Ingredients
2 tbs olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp turmeric
150g (1 cup) quinoa, rinsed, drained
500ml (2 cups) water
300g broccoli, cut into small florets
Quarter of a pumpkin, cubed
Fresh coriander leaves, to serve
Method
Toss pumpkin in a little oil and pepper and bake in a hot oven until
soft in the centre and slightly crisp on the outside (about 25 mins).
Heat remaining oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion,
stirring, for 5 minutes or until soft. Add garlic, ginger and spices. Cook,
stirring, for 1 minute.
Stir in quinoa. Add water and stir, bringing to the boil. Reduce heat to
low. Stir, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Uncover the saucepan and place broccoli on top. Cover and simmer for
another 3-4 minutes.
Add pumpkin and chopped coriander to mixture and stir. Top with
coriander leaves. Season with pepper and serve.
This recipe would also taste great with a spoonful of natural yoghurt on
top!
Myth or Fact?
Myth
Is it safe to swallow chewing gum?
Fact
You may remember your parents telling you that if you swallow chewing
gum it will sit in your stomach for seven years, and you quite possibly
tell your children the same thing. It’s true that the human stomach can’t
break down chewing gum like it does other foods, so the gum will remain
basically intact, working its way through your digestive system before
coming out during a visit to the toilet. Whether there’s any harm in that
is unlikely but it’s probably best to remind children they must spit out
their chewing gum when they are done with it – but not onto the
pavement!
Alcohol guidelines a mystery to most
Most people are unaware of safe drinking limits, and its wreaking havoc
on their health. The current Australian Alcohol Guidelines suggest both men
and women should have no more than two standard drinks each day and no more
than four ‘on occasion’ in order to avoid long term health risks associated
with drinking alcohol, however a recent study showed less than five per
cent of people can accurately identify how many standard drinks are safe to
consume in one sitting to lessen the short and long term risk of health
problems associated with having a few drinks.
Drinking more than the ‘on occasion’ limit of four drinks the guidelines
recommend is considered binge drinking, which can lead to increased risk of
accidents, violence and poor decision making as well as a variety of health
problems including doubling the risk of heart disease, increasing the risk
of cancer and affecting the brain and liver. Binge drinking is the second
highest cause of drug-related deaths and hospitalisations in Australia.
In a recent study, more than 70% of young people believed nine standard
drinks was a safe number to consume in one sitting. Men aged 25-29 and
women aged 65-69 had the highest rates of risky levels of alcohol
consumption. Only 6.4% of men and 8.2% of women accurately estimated the
four drink cap (on occasion) as a safe number of alcoholic drinks to
consume in one sitting. When it came to knowing how many drinks people can
safely consume each day the respondents did a little better, estimating on
average that 2.5 drinks per day was OK for men and 1.4 drinks was safe for
women.
The researchers say their findings were disappointing considering the
time and effort involved in developing and promoting the guidelines. The
number of men and women who don’t realise the health risks involved in
binge drinking is disturbingly high, particularly amongst young people. To
improve short and long term alcohol related health problems people need to
be aware of and adhere to the guidelines – they’re there for a reason.
PIP Breast Implants
You may have heard some stories in the media recently about risks to
women with a specific brand of breast implants called ‘PIP’ implants.
French regulators discovered that PIP, who manufactured and supplied the
implants in question around the world, had been using a grade of silicone
that was not considered medical grade. Different governments have responded
to the situation in different ways, but the Australian Government has taken
a world leadership role in developing a response that puts the health of
patients first. They have established a committee of experts to identify
potential risks, undertaken oversight testing by the Therapeutic Goods
Administration (TGA) and made recommendations to the Department of Health
and Ageing about funding diagnostics and also surgery should women wish to
have them removed.
When the scandal broke little was known about the industrial grade
silicone that has been used in PIP implants and normal arrangements for
obtaining information were blocked when the PIP company closed down and
declared bankruptcy. Removal of the implants involves an increased level of
risk to the original implant with even more risk if the patient chose to
have new implants put in to replace the old ones. So a government response
that recommended removing them without weighing up the risks of leaving the
implants compared to the risks of removal is unlikely to produce the best
outcomes for patients.
To fill the information void the Australasian College of Cosmetic
Surgeons have released a series of video clips providing factual answers to
patients’ questions. You can find them at: www.accs.org.au/pip
Dr Norman Swan - A matter of health
The Causes of Cancer
There’s a lot of myth busting needed in our understanding of what causes
cancer. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. Research suggests
that a powerful way to get people to stop smoking is to tell them that the
tobacco leaves were dipped in pesticide. Smokers drop their cigarettes in
absolute horror. There’s even a market for ‘organic’ cigarettes! We go
around thinking that pesticides, preservatives and other environmental
factors are major causes of cancer, when in fact, the evidence is that
they’re not. What is that evidence? Well, if a chemical causes cancer,
the group of people in whom it will show up most obviously are those who
work with those chemicals. They have the exposure. And what’s known from
that work is that while there may be – for example – a small risk from some
pesticides in people heavily exposed, there’s little or none in the general
community.
The common causes of cancer are known by all of us. In more than one in
five people who develop cancer, the cause is smoking (lung, breast,
stomach, bowel, and pancreas etc). In more than one in 20 people who
develop cancer, the cause is alcohol (oesophagus, mouth, bowel and breast
etc). A large percentage of cancers are made more likely by being
overweight, obese and not taking enough exercise (pancreas, breast, and
bowel etc). Smoke organic cigarettes all you like – but you’ll still die
years sooner and in poorer health than you would if you didn’t smoke. The
same goes for more than one or two standard drinks of alcohol per day,
carrying extra fat and not exercising. The message is to stop fretting
about hidden, tiny or non-existent causes of cancer and take up lifestyles
that are known to prolong your life in good health.
Don’t ignore your body…
Our bodies tell us we are unwell through a variety of symptoms: sore
throats, headaches, pain and fever to name a few. Taking a painkiller or
other over the counter medication can help treat immediate symptoms, but if
the symptoms persist it’s important to find the cause of the problem so it
can be treated. If you have to have surgery or you are injured, your doctor
may prescribe painkillers alongside other medications which will help you
deal with the pain associated with your illness or injury. However, these
are only intended for short term use while your body heals.
Relying on over the counter painkillers for recurrent or chronic pain
won’t cure the problem. By not seeking medical advice you could be making
the pain worse and increasing the risk of long term health issues. Or, you
could be ignoring a serious issue that needs medical attention. Painkillers
may provide short term relief, but they shouldn’t replace professional
health advice that can help identify and treat the root of the problem. If
you find yourself relying on painkillers, seek medical advice to make sure
there’s nothing more sinister going on. Your body may be trying to tell you
something, so you’re best off not to ignore it.
