Today is World Kidney Day
Mims Davies MP is pleased to support NHS Blood and Transplant's World Kidney Day campaign.
Right now, there are over 5,500 people waiting for a kidney transplant in the UK, including more than 100 children.
The kidneys play a crucial role in maintaining overall health by filtering toxins from the body, regulating blood pressure, producing urine, and controlling the levels of various elements in the blood. They also help to control your blood pressure, to produce red blood cells and to keep your bones healthy.
The average waiting time for a kidney transplant is around two years. For some ethnic groups and people for whom it is difficult to find a suitable match, the wait is even longer. Sadly, many will die waiting.
Kidneys are matched by blood group and tissue type, so for many the best match will come from a donor from the same ethnic background.
While some people go on to donate when they die each year, this is not enough to meet the needs of everyone waiting for a transplant.
By supporting NHS Blood and Transplant World Kidney Day campaign, you could help improve the chances of people receiving a kidney transplant.
Get Involved with World Kidney Day
Kidney diseases are silent killers, which can largely affect your quality of life. There are several ways to reduce the risk of developing kidney disease. What can you do for your kidneys?
- Keep fit, be active
- Eat a healthy diet
- Check and control your blood sugar
- Check and control your blood pressure
- Take appropriate fluid intake
- Don't smoke
- Don't take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory/pain-killer pills regularly
- Get your kidney function checked if you have one or more of the 'high risk' factors
Mims Davies MP said:
"Today is World Kidney Day!
Today is a great opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for kidney health worldwide, with the World Kidney Day Joint Steering Committee declaring 2024 to be the year of:
“Kidney Health for All – Advancing equitable access to care and optimal medication practice”.
Join me in raising awareness of World Kidney Day and keeping our kidney's healthy. #WorldKidneyDay"