Hemodialysis patient
Kidney failure in your twenties
NVD (23 years old, university student in Hanoi ) used to have a lifestyle similar to many other young people: staying up late to study for exams, eating late, drinking milk tea and soft drinks. The male student did not expect that this seemingly normal lifestyle would lead to a high price: lifelong dialysis.
D. discovered he had stage IV chronic kidney failure last year, but because he was busy with his university graduation exams, he was complacent, did not have regular check-ups, and even stopped taking his medication.
When he was tired and had severe nausea, D. returned to the hospital. The doctor gave him the bad news that his kidney function had seriously declined, reaching end-stage renal failure and he needed dialysis immediately.
Since then, to sustain his life, D. has had to undergo dialysis three times a week at Hanoi Medical University Hospital. Lying on the hospital bed, watching the needle pierce through his skin to filter his blood, D. cannot help but feel regretful and remorseful about his youthful years.
“Those nights when I stayed up until 2-3am to study for exams, then ate late at night, drank milk tea, I didn’t think it was anything serious. If I could go back, I would take better care of myself, but now it’s too late,” D. said.
According to Associate Professor Do Gia Tuyen, Department of Nephrology - Urology, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, every week he receives up to 6 patients with stage 4-5 chronic kidney failure, most of whom are young or middle-aged people under 45 years old. Worryingly, most patients only discover the disease when it is already in a severe stage, when conservative treatment methods are almost no longer effective.
Why are kidney failure patients often detected late?
Associate Professor Tuyen pointed out three main groups of causes leading to this situation:
Ignorance and subjectivity
Chronic kidney disease progresses silently, without obvious symptoms for many years. Only when signs such as edema, oliguria, fatigue, and high blood pressure appear, do patients go to the doctor, but the disease is already in its final stages. Many people, especially young people, are not aware of the severity of the disease, leading to ignoring the early signs.
Lack of regular screening
Kidney function tests should be performed regularly, especially in high-risk individuals such as diabetics, those with high blood pressure, those over 60 years old, and those with a family history of kidney disease. By simply performing a urine test (measuring proteinuria) and blood creatinine annually, the disease can be detected early. However, many people do not perform these tests due to lack of information or subjectivity.
Fear and cost
Many people worry about the cost of medical treatment or fear of finding out that they have a serious illness, leading to a delay in going to the doctor. This causes the disease to progress silently, until it is too late.
The silent disease
Chronic kidney disease is known as a “silent killer”. With no pain, no fever, no blood in the urine, the disease is easily overlooked. For early diagnosis, specialized tests such as measuring blood creatinine or urine albumin are needed, instead of relying solely on symptoms.
To reduce the risk of chronic kidney failure, Associate Professor Tuyen recommends implementing the following solutions:
- Regular screening: High-risk groups (people over 60 years old, with diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, family history of kidney disease) should have their kidney function checked annually. Simple tests such as rapid urine albumin test or blood creatinine measurement can detect the disease early. If there are signs such as frequent urination at night, leg swelling, unusual fatigue, you should see a doctor immediately.
- Strengthening primary health care capacity: It is necessary to train district and commune doctors on early detection of chronic kidney disease and counseling skills to slow the progression of the disease. This helps people access health services sooner, especially in remote areas.
- For people over 40 years old or with underlying diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure, check kidney function at least annually. Avoid abusing painkillers or unverified herbal medicines. Drinking enough water, controlling weight, and quitting smoking are effective ways to prevent disease.
HA (according to Vietnamnet)
Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/hong-than-o-tuoi-23-414916.html
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