Nigerians have been urged to pay closer attention to their diet and lifestyle as medical experts warn that preventable conditions and unhealthy habits could increase the risk of kidney disease and eventual kidney failure.
Dr Ummusalma Faruk, a medical doctor at a hospital in Dei-Dei, Abuja, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday. She identified uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes, unhealthy diets, obesity, physical inactivity and inappropriate medication use as major risk factors that can place prolonged strain on the kidneys.
Faruk stressed the importance of regular medical checks and early detection, noting that kidney disease can develop without obvious symptoms in its early stages. She advised Nigerians to reduce excessive salt intake, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly and avoid self-medication, particularly the indiscriminate use of medicines that may harm the kidneys.
She also urged people living with hypertension or diabetes to keep the conditions properly controlled, stressing that prevention and early intervention are key to reducing the number of Nigerians who eventually require dialysis or kidney transplantation. The advice comes amid growing concerns over the burden of kidney disease and challenges in accessing and sustaining treatment in Nigeria.
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