Health professionals at the Upper East Regional Hospital have expressed concern over the rising number of kidney disease cases in the region and are urging the public to adopt healthier lifestyles.
Speaking on Tinmaalgo Sanga on Bolga FM, Francisca Adongo, the Municipal Health Promotion Officer, explained that the kidneys are bean-shaped organs about the size of a fist, located under the rib cage toward the back. She said the organs play a vital role in filtering waste and toxins from the blood and removing them from the body through urine.
She noted that when the kidneys fail to function properly, waste products accumulate in the body, which can lead to serious illness and even death if treatment is not sought early.
A Physician Specialist at the hospital, Dr. Emmanuel Anafo, attributed the increasing cases to unhealthy lifestyles, particularly among young people.
According to him, the growing consumption of energy drinks, the mixing of medications without proper medical advice, the use of unknown substances, and failure to adhere to hypertension and diabetes medication are putting many people at risk of kidney failure.
Dr. Anafo warned that although the body may tolerate such habits for some time, symptoms often appear only when the damage is already severe.
Meanwhile, Kennedy Nsobila, a senior nurse at the dialysis centre of the Regional Hospital, advised the public to avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, noting that the body does not have a clear mechanism to determine safe alcohol limits. He also cautioned against high salt intake, as it can increase blood pressure and damage the kidneys.
He further encouraged people to drink adequate amounts of water regularly to help maintain healthy kidney function.
The public was also advised to avoid holding urine for long periods, as this can lead to infections that may affect the kidneys.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bolgatanga
