According to research from UCL which was recently published in the NHS Digital Health Survey for England, over one-third of seniors aged 75 and older exhibit some sign of having severe kidney disease. Surprisingly, however, only 5% of those in that age bracket reported being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, indicating that there is a serious lack of awareness about the state of kidney disease in those most vulnerable to the disease.
Those involved in the research study who were identified as having chronic kidney disease while simultaneously not being aware of any such diagnosis were also observed to be in the throes of advanced stage kidney disease, many in stages 3 to 5, which is quite serious.
These disconcerting findings only serve to emphasize the vital need of aging populations to receive annual physical check-ups and ensure they are thoroughly examined, most notably for kidney disease, and especially if they show other high-risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity.
Through proactive measures, like checking uric acid levels, eating better, exercising and even incorporating some supplements into your daily regimen, kidney disease can be managed. But once it advances to stage 4 and 5, dialysis often becomes necessary and this is undesirable for many, so it’s important to always be vigilant of your health. Trust what your body tells you, don’t ignore symptoms and be sure to speak up when visiting your healthcare provider. They’re there to help you, but they can’t help you unless you make them aware of everything going on in your body, honestly and as clearly as possible.
