Sabri Ülker Foundation Draws Attention to Kidney Health

Sabri Ülker Foundation Raises Awareness on Kidney Health Chronic Kidney Disease has become an epidemic and a significant public health concern worldwide and in our country. When detected early, kidney disease is often preventable or its progression can be delayed. However, low disease awareness remains the biggest obstacle to early detection. When individuals are unaware of their illness, it leads to end-stage renal failure, and quality of life correspondingly declines. Turkish Nephrology Society conducted a screening study in our country and found that one in every 6-7 adults in Turkey has chronic kidney disease at various stages. Studies conducted in various parts of the world show that disease awareness is below 10 percent. This low level of awareness causes the disease to progress to end-stage renal failure, threatens patient health with poor quality of life, and increases rates of disability and mortality.

Early Diagnosis Prevents Disease!

Since this disease can be prevented or at least delayed when detected early, increasing awareness is critically important. With this objective in mind, 10 March is celebrated as World Kidney Day to raise public awareness on kidney health, emphasize the importance of early diagnosis in chronic kidney disease, and inform the public. Kidney health in 6 steps: you can support your kidney health positively by following these recommendations:

• Exercise regularly,
• Maintain healthy, adequate and balanced nutrition and ideal body weight,
• Do not add extra salt to meals,
• Meet daily fluid needs primarily with water,
• Monitor blood pressure and blood sugar at regular intervals,
• Individuals in risk groups should undergo regular medical check-ups and have their kidneys checked regularly.

Reduce Salt, Extend Your Kidney Health's Lifespan!

Salt, also known as sodium chloride, is a basic physiological component and requirement of the human body, but an increase in the amount consumed through added salt in food or meals can lead to serious health problems, particularly hypertension and kidney damage. When examining sources of salt intake worldwide, we see that as high as 68 percent comes from processed foods with high salt content. After salt restriction took its place in hypertension treatment, subsequent studies showed that excessive salt consumption increases the risk of kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. It is also known that excessive salt consumption increases the risk of kidney stone formation, various cancers such as stomach cancer, and osteoporosis development. Salt-induced kidney damage is explained through different mechanisms. Today, hypertensive kidney disease is the most common cause of chronic renal failure after diabetic nephropathy, so the importance of salt consumption for kidney health is quite high. High salt consumption more easily promotes hypertension development, especially in salt-sensitive patients. Salt restriction lowers blood pressure in both hypertensive and normotensive individuals. In light of current data, salt intake of 5 grams or less is recommended for both normotensive and hypertensive individuals.