Why kidney disease is affecting many Akalites and others.

Chibuzor Nwankwo (not his real name) is someone who is a well-known socialite in his community somewhere in Imo State. He goes to party and shines above every other person because he has a lot of cash to spend on wines, women and entertainers. Above all these, Chibuzor drinks and smokes heavily.

After a period of time, Chibuzor started to notice a change in his urination.  He noticed an increased frequency on the amount of urine he discharges. He also noticed a sharp decrease in his urine output. As time went by, the case started to escalate. He told Umuaka Times that there were also some traces of blood in his urine which is medically known as (hematuria). Other symptoms such as foamy or bubbly urine followed.

As all the symptoms were manifesting one after the other, Chibuzor the socialite ignored them all and went ahead with his usual risky lifestyle without seeking any form of medical assistance. Things dived into more precarious dimension when he started to notice some swellings as well as edema in his legs, ankles and feet. Medical experts Umuaka Times consulted disclosed that this development occurred due to fluid retention in his body. At this point, he started to consider seeing a doctor. By the time he finally made up his mind to see a doctor, he was down with fatigue and weakness: The feeling of tiredness or lack of energy enveloped his body. At this time, general body pains, nausea and vomiting took their turns as well. Little by little Chibuzor was dying by installment. Doctors told Umuaka Times that the vomiting was as a result of waste buildup in the blood.

Soon the result of the diagnosis came out and Chibuzor the great money man was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) which is a gradual loss of kidney function over time. He burst into tears when the doctors broke the news to him. Doctors consoled him and told him that all hopes were not lost as the ailment was yet to graduate to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). This is the final stage of CKD, where kidneys are no longer able to meet the body’s needs. He was also lucky that he was not suffering from Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), (A sudden loss of kidney function, often caused by illness, injury, or medication).

Mr Chibuzor Nwankwo represents what many Nigerians go through in today as a result of (perhaps, their risky behaviour). Umuaka Times reporters last week went into research to find out why there is a huge rise in kidney diseases in the community and beyond. A couple of months later, community members were called upon by some social media influencers to start contributing the sum of N70 for the medical treatment of Chibuzor in India. The village could not meet up with the financial demands.

When Chibuzor was pronounced dead later in the following months, his friends mourned him by drinking and smoking heavily on the night of his wake keep. Umuaka Times has established the reasons for the rise in kidney failures today. Not including those who have so far died as a result of kidney failures in Umuaka, currently there are about 3 known cases of kidney failure in Umuaka seriously begging for financial assistance and each will cost around 80 to 90 million Naira.

According to medical experts who spoke with Umuaka Times reporters last week, High Blood Pressure HBP, is a leading cause of kidney disease in the community. HBP damages blood vessels in the kidneys by reducing their ability to filter waste properly. Approximately 20-30 million Nigerians have high blood pressure, putting them at risk of kidney disease.

Diabetes is another catalyst especially uncontrolled diabetes which damages kidney filters, leading to chronic kidney disease. Highly dependable medical sources that spoke with Umuaka Times confirmed that diabetes is a major risk factor for kidney disease worldwide.

Another factor Umuaka Times established last week was the deliberate abuse of painkillers and herbal medications: The overuse or overdose of pain relievers like NSAIDs and unregulated herbal mixtures can seriously harm kidney function. A reliably document which was made available to Umuaka Times by some medical institutions in Imo State explains that untreated infections like malaria, typhoid and hepatitis can lead to kidney damage.

Another risk factor the document talked about is poor lifestyle and choices people make. The book explains that many who drink heavily like Chibuzor have little or no regards for water consumption. This leads to dehydration which is the inadequate water intake which can cause kidney stones and impair kidney functions.

Smoking is another risky behaviour which has made kidney crisis inevitable; smoking can damage kidneys and increase blood pressure alongside with other diseases. Some smokers also indulge in excessive salt and sugar intake. Unknown to them, high salt and sugar consumption can increase blood pressure and contribute to kidney disease.

There are also some genetic and autoimmune conditions: Umuaka Times has it on highly dependable sources that some people inherit kidney diseases like polycystic kidney disease (PKD) or develop autoimmune diseases like Lupus Nephritis. This is perhaps similar to environmental factors which create the exposure to environmental toxins, air pollution and harsh working conditions with their contributing factors to kidney disease.

Many who have so far died of kidney related diseases died because of late detections. Because people do not like medical check-ups, many Nigerians only discover kidney damage when it has reached its advanced stages thereby making treatment challenging. A couple of years ago, a medical institution advised on the need and the importance of regular kidney screenings, especially for those with risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, or family history of kidney diseases.

For there to be a decline on the rise of kidney diseases in Umuaka and Imo State in general, people should cultivate the culture of going for medical screening and avoid risky behaviours that are at variance with medical principles.