With Kidney Health Week being held this week, Aussies are being urged to visit their GP for a kidney health check.
Kidney disease affects 1.7 million people in Australia, but it is estimated a staggering 1.5 million Australians have never heard of the condition.
After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, regular kidney health checks could not be more important, said Kidney Health Australia CEO Chris Forbes (pictured).
People can lose 90 per cent of kidney function without experiencing any visible symptoms, so early detection is critical.
With one in three Australians having an increased risk of kidney disease, the leading risk factors for chronic kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure.
Other factors that increase a person’s risk include smoking, obesity, family history, being over the age of 60, or being over 30 and having a previous acute kidney injury or a history of heart problems.
“For those in a high-risk category it is absolutely essential to stay on top of your kidney health by getting regular checks with your GP. Lockdowns have resulted in people not visiting medical professionals as often as they normally would, so we are urging at-risk Australians to get tested during Kidney Health Week.”
Kidney Health Week is from 7-13 March.
