DOH Center for Health and Development – Cordillera (CHD-CAR) Medical Officer III Dr. Shelly Aral, in a kapihan forum here, Wednesday, bared that in the Cordillera alone, there is an increasing trend in renal disease cases. From the 162 cases recorded in 2009, it increased to 232 in 2010 and to 290 cases in 2011.

According to Aral, the said data do not reflect the actual figure of renal disease cases in the region as other patients in some provinces in the area are seeking consultation/medication from medical facilities in nearby regions or in Manila.

Aral discloses that based on their monitoring, hypertension and diabetes, which are lifestyle related diseases, are the top causes of kidney failure or complication. Another is sedentary lifestyle which is common nowadays especially to the younger generations.

‘Nowadays, people, especially the young ones, prefer meat over vegetables and are more into junk foods which are high on salt and ‘vetsin’ (monosodium glutamate) and they even prefer (bottled) juices or soda (sofdrinks) instead of drinking water that is more beneficial to our kidneys’, Aral stressed.

Moreover, with the influx of modern technology such as computers and push button or remote control equipments, people tend to be more sedentary;- they do not exercise even just taking a short walk, she pointed out.
Aral explained that cure of renal diseases is expensive. Hemodialysis alone costs between P2,000 to P4,000 per session, which for some cases or patients are required up to three times a week. How much more if a patient requires a kidney transplant wherein matched-donor is also hard to find, she said.
She reiterated that prevention is always better than cure or medication. This she said can be done by having a healthy lifestyle which includes having a low salt, low fat and high fiber diet, avoiding vices such as smoking and having regular exercise.

Aral also informed that since 1994, the health department has embarked on a renal disease program then called as Preventive Nephrology Project and now known as REDCOP or the Renal Disease Control Program.

REDCOP includes kidney health advocacy program, promotion of healthy lifestyle and renal diseases prevention among school children, through the provision of free urinalysis, in which early detection of urine abnormalities can greatly help prevent kidney or renal diseases or complications.

By virtue of a Presidential Decree issued by former President Fidel Ramos in 1993, every July the country observes National Kidney Month to raise awareness on renal diseases, which for this year adopts the theme, ‘Ikaw at Ako, Panalo sa Malusog na Bato’. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)

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