Bataan doctors, PIA-Bataan teach nurses on kidney care

“When we eat fast food, we are giving our kidneys a lot of work to clean our body. It is much better and cheaper to eat at home,” said Ilaya.

This is the second forum spearheaded by BKDC and the Philippine Society of Nephrology-Central Luzon chapter in partnership with Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Bataan in observance of the National Kidney Month in June.

According to nephrologist Dr. Edison Guerrero, kidney disease is ranked number 10 among the top ten leading causes of death in the country, and it is known to be a “silent killer.”

“What are the visible signs or warning if one has kidney disease? Maybe none at all! This is the reason why kidney disease is called silent killer,” Guerrero said.

Too much consumption of soft drinks, coffee, red meat, and sweet and salty foods weaken the two kidneys in the body that results to various renal diseases, explained nephrologist Dr. Hezel Diwa.

Health reports showed that one Filipino dies of kidney disease every hour.

With this, Diwa advised the nurses to undergo annual examination of urine, regular blood check, and monitoring of blood pressure.

“Why do kidneys fail? The major causes are diabetes, high blood pressure, internal inflammation of kidneys, infection, drugs, and hereditary conditions,” Diwa said.

In the forum facilitated by PIA-Bataan manager Jose Mari Garcia, the nurses were asked to write down their doable pledges on how to take care of their kidneys.

BGH chief nurse Evelyn Rubia wrote in her pledge that she will not drink soft drinks anymore, same with nurse Joanna Fe Haciñas who vowed to cut her soda intake.

“Away from fast food!” wrote one Johnson Palaypay.