Kidney disease check-up suggested

A charity has urged people who think they may be at risk of kidney disease to get a simple check-up at their doctor's surgery to avoid complications later.

According to Kidney Research UK, although some three million people are at risk of the disease, many still delay in getting themselves checked.

People can catch kidney disease in its early stages and save their lives with the help of a simple blood pressure check. High blood pressure is the second most common cause of kidney disease after diabetes.

Currently in the UK, as many as 1.7 million people have kidney disease, while some 45,000 people are being treated for kidney failure - the prevalence of which is increasing by five per cent each year.

Donal O'Donoghue, the Government's national clinical director for kidney care, said: "Anyone who is worried that they may be at risk of kidney disease can talk to their GP who may do simple blood and urine tests, or use the online self-assessment tool.

"People can also reduce their risk of kidney disease by making simple lifestyle changes like eating more healthily, stopping smoking and exercising more."

Bolton Wanderers and Croatia striker Ivan Klasnic, who had two kidney transplants, said: "Had my kidney disease been picked up early I feel that I could have avoided having not one, but two kidney transplants."

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