Specialists from Hospital Juárez de México, within the framework of World Kidney Day, commemorated every second Thursday of March, highlighted the importance of strengthening preventive actions to reduce the incidence of kidney diseases. The head of the hospital's Nephrology Service, Enzo Vásquez Jiménez, stated that prevention requires the joint participation of public institutions, the private sector, and the general population, with the aim of reducing the burden of kidney disease in the country.
The specialist explained that adopting healthy habits is one of the most important elements for preventing the development of kidney diseases. Among the main recommendations, he emphasized: maintaining a balanced diet, consuming adequate amounts of natural water, reducing the intake of products with high fructose levels, and avoiding frequent consumption of sugary drinks, such as sodas. These measures help reduce the risk of conditions like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, which increase the likelihood of developing kidney damage.
He also stressed that people who already live with these conditions must maintain adequate medical control, in addition to avoiding habits that affect health, such as smoking and a sedentary lifestyle.
Dr. Enzo Vásquez explained that the kidneys perform multiple fundamental functions for the body's balance. These include: eliminating waste and toxins produced during the day, regulating the amount of water in the body, and participating in the production of erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates the generation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. Due to this hormonal function, when there is advanced kidney deterioration, anemia can occur.
The specialist added that the kidneys are also involved in: regulating blood pressure, maintaining bone health, and balancing minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. These functions contribute to the body's nutritional and metabolic balance.
The specialist indicated that the main risk factor for developing kidney disease is diabetes mellitus, particularly when adequate control of the disease is not maintained. Other associated factors include: arterial hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and smoking. These elements can accelerate the deterioration of kidney function if they are not detected and controlled in a timely manner.
According to the specialist from Hospital Juárez de México, around 12% of the adult Mexican population has some degree of kidney disease, a figure that includes both people with early kidney damage and those receiving dialysis treatment. Furthermore, chronic kidney disease is among the ten leading causes of death in Mexico, in both men and women.
The specialist also explained that kidney disease often evolves without symptoms in its early stages, which makes early detection difficult. When the disease progresses, manifestations may appear such as: Anemia, which manifests as weakness, paleness, or fatigue; Inflammation in the feet; Decreased appetite; Accumulation of toxins in the skin, which causes itching. These signs usually appear when the kidney function has already decreased considerably.
