The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist, located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. Kidneys are as important as the other vital organs in the body.  If they stop working, our body will stop too.

June is National Kidney Month in accordance with the Presidential Proclamation No. 184 of 1993.  This annual observance aims to raise awareness to the importance kidney health and the prevention of kidney diseases.

Our kidneys perform vital functions in the body. They remove wastes and extra fluid from the blood, regulate blood pressure, help make red blood cells, and control vital hormones and minerals. They filter about half a cup of blood every hour, creating urine from harmful and unnecessary waste. When kidneys get damaged, they cannot filter blood the way they should.  When the blood cannot be filtered efficiently, it may cause other illnesses. Kidney disease weakens the immune system and can make the body more susceptible to infections.

We need to show our kidneys some love. We can make our kidneys healthy by:

• Avoiding high sodium foods and foods with high saturated fat content.
• Drinking plenty of fluids because dehydration can seriously damage your kidney. This also reduces the risk of kidney stones.
• Not smoking or consuming too much alcohol.
• Avoiding over-the-counter pain relievers that can damage kidneys.
• Doing regular exercise is a great way to fight off kidney disease. Even simple exercise, like taking walks, is helpful.
• Eating healthy and managing your weight.
• Finding ways to deal with stress in your life. This can help lower your blood pressure, improve your body’s ability to heal, and have a big impact on your kidney health.

It is important to take care of our kidneys.  Let us “heart” our kidneys if we love ourselves. Kailangan natin ang matatag na bato sa kapanahunang ito.

Written by: NO I Joyce Ann P. Pardo and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo

Source:

• https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work
• https://www.kidney.org/content/how-heart-your-kidneys
• 10 Signs You May Have Kidney Disease | National Kidney Foundation
• Insel, P., Ross, D., McMahon, K., & Bersten, M. (2016). Discovering Nutrition (5th ed.). United States of America: Jones and Bartlett Learning
• https://nkti.gov.ph/index.php/news/announcements/499-june-is-national-kidney-month-mlink