Federal Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon is getting behind Kidney Health Week (May 22– 28), Kidney Health Australia’s national awareness week which is urging all Australians to ‘I Kidney Check!’
Approximately 1.7 million Australians have indicators of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), yet less than 10% realise they have the condition. Meanwhile, the general population is largely unaware of the critical role the kidneys play in keeping the body healthy and the crucial need to get their kidneys checked every 12 months.
Mr Fitzgibbon said: “I’m supporting this campaign to let everyone in the Hunter electorate know the importance of ‘I Kidney Check’ and to learn about the risk factors and warning signs before it’s too late and they need to go onto dialysis, or get a kidney transplant.”
“The kidneys are a vital organ – just like the heart, brain, or lungs – if they shut down, your body shuts down.”
In Australia, 60 people die with kidney-related disease every day, and more Australians die with diseases of the kidney and urinary tract each year than from breast cancer, prostate cancer, or even road deaths.
For more information about Kidney Health Week, visit www.kidney.org.au or find Kidney Health Australia on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Kidney Health Australia is a national health care charity with a vision ‘to save and improve the lives of Australians affected by kidney disease’. As the national peak body, Kidney Health Australia promotes good kidney health through education, advocacy, research and support.
Warning signs of kidney disease:
You can lose up to 90% of kidney function before experiencing any symptoms
• High blood pressure
• Changes in the amount of and frequency urine is passed, colour of urine, or blood in the urine
• Pain in the kidney area
• Tiredness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Loss of appetite
• Headaches and lack of concentration
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bad breath or metallic taste in the mouth
• Shortness of breath
Be the first to comment
Sign in with