For many years, Nguyen Van Thao (27 years old, an IT employee in Hanoi ) maintained the habit of staying up until 2-3 am to work and play games. Every day, he drank several cans of energy drinks, frequently ate fast food, and exercised very little.
For about the past six months, he had been experiencing frequent fatigue, weight gain, and high blood pressure, but thought it was due to work stress. Only when he noticed facial swelling and foamy urine did he seek medical attention, where he was diagnosed with late-stage chronic kidney disease.
"I didn't think I'd have to face the risk of needing dialysis at just over 20 years old," the male patient shared.
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Kidney disease is affecting younger and younger people. (Illustrative image) |
Tran Minh Hang (25 years old, an office worker in Hanoi) used to use many types of weight-loss teas and dietary supplements bought online to maintain her figure. After a while, she experienced swollen legs, fatigue, and nausea, but she neglected to seek medical attention.
It wasn't until she experienced reduced urination and general weakness that Hang went to Bach Mai Hospital for examination; the test results showed severely impaired kidney function.
Warning: Chronic kidney disease is affecting younger and younger people.
According to statistics from the Vietnam Dialysis Association, the rate of people under 40 years old suffering from chronic kidney disease has increased significantly in recent years. At Bach Mai Hospital, it is not uncommon to see students, or those in the prime of their lives, sitting silently beside dialysis machines.
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Kidney failure is a difficult process to reverse, but its progression can be slowed if detected early (Photo: Bach Mai Hospital). |
According to Dr. Vu Thi Anh, a Master's degree holder and resident physician at the Center for Nephrology, Urology and Dialysis, Bach Mai Hospital, many people still consider kidney failure to be a disease of old age or only seen in those with long-standing underlying conditions. However, the reality shows that chronic kidney disease is becoming increasingly prevalent among younger people and is a warning sign for many young people today.
Ms. Anh emphasized that early-stage kidney disease often progresses silently because the kidneys are capable of maintaining their function even when their capacity is only 20-30%. Therefore, many people only discover the disease when it is already in a late stage.
Signs that require special attention include: persistent foamy urine, dark urine, or blood in the urine; swelling of the eyelids and legs; high blood pressure in young people; persistent fatigue, and paleness due to anemia.
During the examination, doctors found that many unhealthy habits are directly increasing the risk of kidney failure in young people. Among these, the most common is the self-medication with painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, traditional medicine, or dietary supplements of unknown origin.
In addition, unhealthy lifestyles such as consuming too much salt, abusing sugary drinks, staying up late for extended periods, and a lack of exercise leading to overweight and obesity are also risk factors. In particular, many young people are complacent about underlying conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, failing to have regular check-ups and treatment, which increases the risk of kidney damage over time.
According to Master's student Vu Thi Anh, kidney failure is a difficult process to reverse, but its progression can be slowed down if detected early. A simple urine test and blood creatinine level can sometimes create the line between a normal life and a life tied to the hospital and dialysis machines.
Therefore, you shouldn't wait until you experience shortness of breath or difficulty urinating to see a doctor. Pay attention to small changes in your body, because your kidneys are sending warning signals through signs that are easily overlooked.
In particular, people with hypertension, diabetes; the elderly, overweight or obese individuals, those with a family history of kidney disease, and those experiencing symptoms such as edema, abnormal urine, or persistent fatigue should have their kidney function checked regularly for timely and effective treatment.
Source: https://znews.vn/suy-than-o-tuoi-27-post1652791.html
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