Taking in unprescribed medicines or consuming too much pain relievers can be harmful to the kidneys, health experts warned.

Alma Suclad, a nephrologist and a consultant on the government’s Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP), said maintenance medication should be prescribed by doctors to determine the right dose that a patient should take. Too much intake of pain relievers could also damage the kidneys.

To keep the kidneys healthy, Suclad advised practicing healthy lifestyle and healthy diet. Having a regular check-up and urinalysis to detect kidney disease early saves a patient’s life and their families from the expensive and lifetime medication.

“We have many healthy lifestyle choices such as eating lots of fruits and vegetables, eating lean meat like chicken and fish every week, eating only small amounts of salty and fatty food, and drinking plenty of water instead of other drinks. Everyone must also maintain a healthy weight, exercise, avoid smoking, limit alcohol intake, have a regular blood pressure check, and avoid stress,” Suclad said.

Department of Health REDCOP Regional Coordinator Shelly Aral shared  Suclad’s views. She said renal or kidney diseases are mostly caused by sedentary lifestyle.

She also reminded that prevention is always better than cure.

She said the number of renal disease cases in the Cordillera region is increasing.

From 162 cases in 2009, the number increased to 232 cases in 2010 and to 290 cases in 2011. The data comprise the hemodialysis patients in the eight hemodialysis centers in the region.

Aral said most of the patients are 50 to 60 years old but there are two patients who are nine and 13 years old.

The DOH will be providing urine test or urinalysis to public school students in the Cordillera for the REDCOP program in partnership with the Department of Education. Urine test, Aral said is still the basic way to detect abnormalities in the kidneys.