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Measure Up and wellness Minimize

Measure Up and wellness 

Back to Measure Up and CKD  I  Measure Up with healthy eating  I  Measure Up with physical activity 

Wellness - we present some wise choices to achieve better health!  The majority of chronic diseases are preventable for most people through healthy lifestyle choices, which includes both physical and mental wellness. The following are recommended key health choices to help maintain better health, especially if you wish to avoid chronic kidney disease.

A regular health check is wise  It is important to visit your doctor at least once a year, to detect potential health problems early, so they can be prevented, diagnosed and treated. See Talk to your doctor this site.

Become a non-smoker  Smoking harms the body - it causes a narrowing of the arteries, including the small vessels in the kidney filters. This reduces the kidneys’ ability to work properly. If you have diabetes and smoke, the risk of developing proteinuria is much higher. Smoking also increases blood pressure. For reasons not well understood, smoking appears to speed up the progression of diabetic kidney disease to kidney failure. To help QUIT ring 13 78 48, ask for free Quit Pack or contact Smokenders Australia 1800 021 000.

Control your blood sugar levels  Hyperglycaemia or high blood sugar (diabetes) is a strong risk factor for kidney damage. It affects small blood vessels in the kidneys, particularly those in the kidney filters. Controlling blood sugar levels can slow down development of diabetic kidney disease. View Diabetes Channel online.

Control cholesterol levels  Cholesterol is a type of fat or lipid. There are two types of cholesterol – low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ‘bad’ cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ‘good’ cholesterol. Triglycerides are a form of stored body fat. Some studies show high cholesterol can increase the progression of diabetic kidney disease. It is important to control your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels with diet and medication if necessary.

Control proteinuria  Any treatment that lowers levels of protein in the urine can help to reduce the rate of progression to kidney failure. Two important drugs used to treat proteinuria are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB). These drugs should be used even if blood pressure is in the desired range. A drop in salt intake to ‘low normal’ can also help to reduce proteinuria.

Live a healthy lifestyle  The risk of type 2 diabetes can be reduced by up to 60% by adopting a healthy and active lifestyle. Some risk factors for developing diabetic kidney disease relate everyday choices.

Maintain healthy blood pressure  High blood pressure can cause kidney damage and kidney damage can cause higher blood pressure. Diabetes can also cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure can also lead to heart attack, strokes and loss of vision if left untreated. You may have high blood pressure and feel perfectly well.

In recent years the use of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) has proven effective treatment for high blood pressure. These drugs lower blood pressure by widening the arteries and also help protect kidney function. See Kidney Health and Blood Pressure and Your heart and CKD

Our key kidney health messages focus on the importance of maintaining a balanced lifestyle and having a regular kidney and urinary health check, particularly for the 1 in 3 Australians ‘at increased risk’ of kidney disease. Are you at risk? Take our quiz today - if you are 'at risk' ask your GP for a kidney health check. Early detection and treatment can help prevent kidney failure and the need for dialysis or transplant treatment. 

This information is provided in harmony with the Measure Up Campaign  and its new program 'Swap it - Don't stop it' for people who want to become healthier. Make positive lifestyle changes as there is significant evidence that being overweight or obese, not getting enough physical activity, smoking, harmful alcohol consumption and unhealthy eating - are major risk factors for many chronic diseases.  

Wellness issues and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

People when diagnosed with CKD, and those who care about them, can feel a range of emotional responses: shock, sadness, grief, fear, anger, frustration, feeling down, tense or alone. Some losses may seem trivial - like limiting social engagements or shifting housework to a partner - yet these can be important and may signal changes in relationships such as greater dependence. Many people talk about grieving for their previous health, abilities and life before CKD. Mental health problems may develop because:

  • adapting to CKD is stressful - for the individual and family members
  • we may feel our body and general situation are out of control, and there is nothing that we can do
  • we feel lonely and isolated from family and friends 
  • it can be difficult to talk about illness with those close to us - we don't want to worry or upset them

For some, the emotional impact can feel overwhelming and can leave us very anxious and depressed. It can stop us from doing the things we need to do in our daily lives or prevent us enjoying fun things we usually do.

Depression and anxiety are very common with CKD. They can appear in people affected and in those who care about them, through all stages of CKD - from diagnosis to dialysis, following transplantation and even in deciding not to start or to withdraw from dialysis. These feelings are normal and it is helpful to talk about them with people who care about us. While they are unsettling, each of us has the ability to learn new coping skills and develop relationships with individuals who can provide support. It is known that:

  • people living with chronic illness who have effective treatment for associated depression, can improve control of their illness
  • symptoms of depression are often unrecognised or confused with symptoms of other illnesses
  • mental illness is treatable and the vast majority recover well
  • three million Australians will experience a major depressive illness during their lifetime  

Depression and anxiety disorders are treatable  Learning to understand them and how they are treated, embrace things you can do to manage symptoms yourself. This is a powerful way to start on the road to recovery. Recovery means that you will be among the many people living with CKD who have been through this experience and are leading productive and satisfying lives.

Why are mental health problems more common among people living with CKD?  Depression and anxiety are medical conditions. As with many other conditions, some people are born with a genetic disposition to developing them. Certain things - stress or other life events - can then trigger the onset of symptoms.

Adjusting to and coping with changes that accompany CKD may bring ongoing stress that can build up over time. Certain events are also particularly stressful and you may be more likely to develop depression or anxiety at these times - at diagnosis, beginning treatment, after transplant or when taking certain medications. People you get to know during treatment may become unwell or die. Coping with other medical problems such as skin cancers or high blood pressure, dealing with relationship break-ups or job loss can also be stressful triggers. Stress is probably the most common reason for poor mental health in people with kidney disease. 

SANE Guide to Good Mental Health: For people affected by kidney disease

Kidney Health Australia and SANE Australia addressed the issue of mental health and kidney disease. It is estimated that 50% of Australians with CKD are affected by depression. SANE’s ‘Mind and Body’ Initiative aims to draw attention to the physical health needs of people with a mental illness and chronic physical health problems, encouraging treatment of the whole person.

The SANE Guide to Good Mental Health: For people affected by kidney disease looks at mental health problems, treatment options and includes case studies of people with CKD and how it impacts on their lives. Many people have times where they struggle to cope and may become anxious or depressed. Use our Resources Order Form to order this book. Cost - $10 each.

   For hearing impaired - TTY/Voice 133 677  |  Speak & Listen (SSR) 1300 555

Emotional and Wellness Resources

Support Groups, Message Boards and social networking - our Kidney Community Online 

Various uplifting websites

UPDATED 31 OCTOBER 2011
Disclaimer: This information is intended as a general introduction to this topic and is not meant to substitute for your doctor's or health professional's advice. All care is taken to ensure the information is relevant and applicable to each Australian state. It should be noted Kidney Health Australia recognises each person's experience is individual and variations do occur in treatment and management due to personal circumstances. Should you require further info always consult your doctor or health professional.
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  The material contained on this site does not constitute medical advice. It is intended for information purposes only. Published by Kidney Health Australia. Privacy Policy. For information about website content please contact the National Communications Manager.

© 2008 Kidney Health Australia

Last updated: Feb 2012.