kidney disease
What is Acute Kidney Injury?
When you experience a sudden change in kidney function, often when you have an acute illness like diarrhoea, vomiting, fever or an infection, it is called acute kidney injury (AKI). 3.15
Acute Kidney Injury could be caused by: 15
- Sepsis (when an infection spread throughout the body)
- When you do not have enough blood in your body (hypovolaemia)
- When you are not taking in enough fluids
- Using certain medication (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, certain antibiotics, some medications for high blood pressure), especially when not taking in enough fluids
- Obstruction of the urinary tract (e.g. kidney stones, enlarged prostate)
- Pre-existing heart failure, liver disease or diabetes
What is Hypertension / high blood pressure?
Blood Pressure is written as two numbers:16
- The first (systolic) Blood Pressure represents the pressure in your arteries when your heart contracts or beats.
- The second (diastolic) Blood Pressure represents the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.
The normal values for Blood Pressure are less than 120 (systolic) and less than 80 (diastolic) mmHg (written as 120/80 and pronounced 120 over 80).17
Hypertension is called the “silent killer” as there may be no signs or symptoms, and most people are unaware that they have it.16
When symptoms do occur, they may include:16
- Early morning headaches
- Nosebleeds
- Irregular heart rhythms
- Vision changes
- Buzzing in the ears
It is best to have your Blood Pressure checked regularly by a Healthcare Practitioner.16
What does a renal diet entail?
Firstly, a healthy, balanced diet helps you manage any pre-existing conditions you may have to protect your kidneys and help reduce your risk of developing Kidney Disease.9
Specific dietary recommendations for early Kidney Disease include the following: 14,18
- Reduce your salt intake, as salt increases blood pressure and retains fluids
- Take note of the potassium-content of salt substitutes.
- Check food labels for phosphate additives.
- Reduce your protein intake moderately – always speak to a dietician when reducing a nutrient that is needed for good nutrition, like protein.
- Try to avoid processed food (incl. ready meals or meats of fish that are cured, salted, smoked, coated, breaded or battered), as it contains a lot of sodium.
