02/06/2026
I recently had the privilege of being invited by a church organization to deliver a health talk to the men's fellowship on kidney disease, focusing on its prevalence, early warning signs, risk factors, and preventive measures.
It was an engaging and interactive session, with participants asking thoughtful questions about kidney health and how to protect themselves from kidney disease
One of the participants asked an important question: "Why is it that many patients who come to the hospital with kidney problems often end up on dialysis?"
I explained that dialysis is not the treatment for every stage of kidney disease. In fact, many kidney diseases can be managed effectively when detected early. However, one of the major challenges we face is late presentation.
The kidneys are remarkable organs because they can continue functioning even when they have already lost a significant portion of their capacity. As a result, many people do not experience obvious symptoms in the early stages of kidney disease. Unfortunately, some individuals only seek medical attention when they begin to experience severe symptoms such as swelling of the legs, difficulty breathing, persistent weakness, reduced urine output, uncontrolled hypertension, or other complications associated with advanced kidney failure.
By the time many patients arrive at the hospital, their kidney function may have deteriorated to a stage where dialysis becomes necessary to sustain life. This often creates the impression that every kidney patient must undergo dialysis, which is not true.
The key message is that early detection saves kidneys. Regular medical check-ups, blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar control, urine testing, and kidney function screening—especially for individuals with hypertension, diabetes, a family history of kidney disease, or prolonged use of certain medications—can help identify kidney problems before they progress to advanced stages.
When kidney disease is detected early, appropriate treatment and lifestyle modifications can slow or even prevent progression to kidney failure, thereby reducing the likelihood of requiring dialysis.
Therefore, let us not wait until we become seriously ill before seeking medical care. Routine health screening and early hospital presentation remain some of the most effective tools for protecting kidney health and preserving quality of life.
Nurse Sabbathinah Ubochioma Christian,
Preventive Nephrology Advocate | Health Educator | Community Health Promoter
Available for health talks, medical outreaches, wellness programs, and public health education sessions.
