Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines), Inc., together with Dialysis Philippines Support Group (Dialysis PH), Kidney Transplant Association of the Philippines (KITAP), and Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO), is bringing It Starts With U: Get CheCKD back in time for the holiday season. The awareness event will be on November 30, 2024, at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City.

It Starts With U: Get CheCKD aims to raise awareness of chronic kidney disease (CKD) through activity zones that emphasize early detection and explain how the risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases like Heart Failure are amplified with the presence of one of these three diseases.

"The alarming rise in Chronic Kidney Disease cases in the Philippines calls for immediate action. Every hour, a Filipino faces the possibility of chronic renal failure, and over 2.3 million are already living with this silent disease. Events like this are crucial for raising awareness and encouraging early detection, which can save lives and improve health outcomes," says Dr. Greta Cortez, Head of Medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines.

CKD is connected to other health conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes. Kidney disease is one of the first complications to develop when the heart cannot pump blood efficiently to the body.[ Healthline. Why Congestive Heart Failure and Kidney Disease Often Occur Together. https://www.healthline.com/health/kidney-health/chf-and-kidney-failure. Accessed Oct 23, 2024.] Diabetes, meanwhile, may also cause CKD as high blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the kidneys and the heart.[ American Kidney Fund. Heart disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD). https://www.kidneyfund.org/all-about-kidneys/risk-factors/heart-disease-and-chronic-kidney-disease-ckd. Accessed Oct 23, 2024.]

It Starts With U: Get CheCKD will raise awareness of CKD and its connections to hypertension and diabetes through educational talks and new booths focused on the two diseases. There will also be a booth where Boehringer Ingelheim will feature their educational website which aims to empower individuals with information about chronic kidney disease (CKD) and related health conditions. It offers valuable insights on prevention, risk factors, and complications, encouraging patients to take proactive steps toward better health and seek professional care when needed.

It Starts With U: Get CheCKD will also bring back the activity zones that made the first awareness event successful.

The Movement CheCKD Zone will encourage guests to lead a healthier lifestyle through live Zumba and POUND® sessions. Visitors may complement their active lifestyle at the Nutrition CheCKD Zone, where healthy food stations will offer kidney-healthy snacks. The Health CheCKD Zone will feature health and lifestyle stations where guests can check their vitals, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature, and have one-on-one consultations with doctors. If determined to be at risk for CKD, patients can avail the free two-step screening process for kidney health.

Visitors may also play Check Your Choices, a life-sized board game that offers a fun learning experience on how kidneys work and how they may care for it.

Monitor your health

There is a simple 2-step screening process to check kidney health. First is the creatine test, a blood test that is able to measure the waste product of the body and from that the estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) rate can be computed. The second is the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR) test that uses a urine sample to measure albumin, or protein level present in your urine.[ National Health Service. Chronic Kidney Disease Diagnosis. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/diagnosis/. Accessed Mar 7, 2024]

Two primary conditions that often lead to CKD are diabetes and hypertension. Lifestyle factors such as age, smoking, family history of CKD, and obesity also put individuals at risk of CKD. Unhealthy lifestyles may also cause you to eat foods high in sugar and sodium, be exposed to constant stress, or keep you from moving your body.

This Christmas, give your loved ones the gift of health. Consult your doctor. For more information, please visit ItStartsWithYou.com.ph.