MP and Mayor Urge Kidney Health Awareness

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron and Mayor of Kendal Chris Hogg are using World Kidney Day to urge residents to make themselves aware of kidney health.

World Kidney Day is an annual global awareness and education event, held on the second Thursday in March. Kidney disease affects over 3 million people in the UK.

Mayor of Kendal Chris Hogg recently donated one of his kidneys to his wife Rachael, and has used his time as Mayor to raise awareness of organ donation. In particular, he has campaigned for Kendal to become an Organ Donor Town.

World Kidney Day UK recommends several simple ways to reduce the risk of developing kidney disease:

• Monitor your Blood Pressure - High blood pressure accelerates kidney damage. To protect yourself from kidney disease you should also maintain a diet low in salt and saturated fats.

• Keep fit and active - This helps reduce your blood pressure and therefore reduces the risk of kidney disease.
• Don't smoke - Smoking slows blood flow to the kidneys, decreasing their ability to function properly.
• Eat healthily and keep your weight in check - This can help prevent diabetes, heart disease and other conditions associated with kidney disease.
• Get your kidney function tested - If anyone in your family has suffered from kidney disease, you are diabetic or have high blood pressure.
• Keep well hydrated - This helps the kidneys clear sodium, urea and toxins from the body which can significantly lower the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. (Dialysis patients however may need to restrict their fluid intake.)

Tim said: "Kidney disease affects a huge number of people, but is something a lot of people know little about. World Kidney Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about something which affects a huge number of people of all ages. I'd also urge people to consider becoming organ donors, and would like to thank Chris for all his work in making Kendal an Organ Donor Town."

Chris Hogg said: "There are a number of simple, easy things people can do to help look after their kidneys. I'm hoping both my kidneys remain healthy now they are keeping two of us alive."