5 Signs You May Have Kidney Disease

5 Signs you may need to see your doctor for kidney disease 1. Fatigue, if you are more tired than usual. 2. Insomnia, if you are having trouble sleeping. 3. Swollen ankles or feet. 4. Loss of appetite. 5. Excessive urination. One of Africa’s leading Vascular Surgeons, Dr Vinesh Padayachy has implored people to be proactive and seek care for kidney disease before it’s too late. He said that early detection is key to combating kidney disease. Padayachy said people who are diabetic and hypertensive should be particularly alert and have regular screenings for kidney disease. “HIV is also a major cause of Chronic Kidney Disease. HIV nephropathy can lead to end stage renal disease requiring dialysis,” Dr Padayachy said. According to studies, Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects as much as 15% of the South African population. The National Kidney Foundation of South Africa, says that kidney disease represents a growing healthcare problem. They said that around 20 000 new patients required diagnosis and treatment every year. About 10% of the global population is affected by CKD, and millions die each year because they do not have access to affordable treatment. Over 2 million people worldwide currently receive treatment with dialysis or have had a kidney transplant to stay alive, yet this number may only represent 10% of people who actually need treatment to live. Kidney failure in South African adults is mainly due to Hypertension (60-65%) or Type 2 Diabetes (another 20-25%).