Kidney disease is the silent disease

This week is National Kidney Health Week and Thursday is international Kidney Day, and Mr Stolker believes that awareness and education are the keys to fighting a battle, which commonly can take 90 per cent of a person’s kidney function before showing any symptoms.

Unfortunately for Mr Stolker, a blood test after a bout of gout in his foot revealed the extent of his disease, which now sees him on eight hours of dialysis every day.

The JT Fossey salesman isn’t one to back down from a challenge however, and while he is waiting on a donor list, that could see him get a kidney this afternoon or in five years time, he wants other sufferers to know that it is not the end of the world.

“It obviously affects your life and can take a toll - everyday duties can be a bit more difficult and energy levels can be low but I still work a 50 hour week and manage a bit of golf and a family,” Mr Stolker said.

“People don’t really understand the disease or its implications and that comes back to awareness and education. A lot of people don’t even realise what kidneys do and how important kidney function is.” 

While some kidney disease is hereditary, and some can be caused by an injury or accident, two of the most common causes are diabetes and high blood pressure, and Tamworth is punching above it’s weight on both factors.

The Australian Health Survey published in 2013 shows that 31.8 per cent of Tamworth residents over 18 years old are obese, and a further 18.5 per cent have high blood pressure.

Westmead Hospital nephrology specialist Dr Richard Phoon believes that if more Australians can understand the symptoms and causes it will lead to earlier detection and better management.

“If detected early, the otherwise inevitable deterioration in kidney function and associated increased risk of cardio vascular disease can be reduced by as much as 50 per cent and can even be reversible,” Dr Phoon said.