WILLEMSTAD - Chronic kidney failure can be life-threatening and affects 1 in 10 adults worldwide. The goal of World Kidney Day (March 11) is to raise awareness of this disease and to offer hope that if the disease is detected early and treated appropriately, patients can live longer and better lives.
The two main causes of chronic renal failure are diabetes and high blood pressure, which are responsible for about 2/3 of the cases. Over time, chronic kidney failure causes a progressive loss of kidney function. The kidneys perform multiple functions in the body, including critical regulation of the body's salt, potassium and acid levels, elimination of wastes and drugs from the body, release of hormones that regulate blood pressure and red blood cell production, as well as producing of the active form of vitamin D, which is necessary for strong and healthy bones.
The majority of people with early-stage chronic kidney failure have no obvious symptoms and may appear perfectly healthy, but this increases the risk of early death from cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, regardless of whether people ever develop kidney failure.
There is currently no cure for chronic renal failure. However, there are many options to slow or stop the progression of the disease in the early stages, such as lifestyle modifications, including proper diet, exercise, non-smoking, and medications that can help maintain critical balance in the body. what the kidneys would normally take care of, such as monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol levels. When a patient arrives at a point where the kidney is no longer functioning, long-term dialysis (machine removal of waste and excess fluid) or transplantation are the main treatment options. CMC has 48 dialysis chairs and can treat 96 patients daily. CMC treats 186 patients per week. Regarding transplantation, this takes place in the Netherlands, but our specialists guide patients through the entire preparation process before traveling abroad.
On Wednesday, March 31, Curaçao Medical Center will be LIVE on Facebook from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM with a team of experts who will present valuable information so that the public can ask questions about kidney disease and kidney transplantation.