Exercise reduces risks of kidney, heart diseases

A Consultant Nephrologist, National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Habibu Galadanci, has recommended a 30-minute exercise, at least, five days weekly to prevent kidney, heart and brain diseases.
The consultant, who gave this advice on Monday in Abuja, blamed the increasing rate of these diseases on sedentary lifestyles.
Galadanci described sedentary living as being inactive, stressing that such habit was harmful to the general wellbeing of every individual, both young and old.
The consultant also discouraged Nigerians from living in air-conditioned homes as well as using air-conditioned cars everyday in the interest of their health.
According to him, the best way for one to guard against such ailments is by engaging the body in physical exercises, rather than sedentary living.
Galadanci noted that sedentary lifestyles could be hazardous to health, adding that it can expose one to life threatening diseases.
“Identifying the risk factors for kidney failure and identifying chronic kidney diseases before it progresses to kidney failure is a major step towards preventing kidney failure.
“Every Nigerian adult should go for annual check up of his blood sugar level and blood pressure while children should do pre-school medical check-ups.
“Exercise is the key to kidney, heart and brain diseases prevention, sedentary life is very harmful and we need to move the feet, thereby making the body active, rather than idle.
“I encourage everyone to move his or her feet by walking, jogging, running, swimming and dancing, among others,’’ he advised.
Galadanci further identified diet, as another factor that could increase or decrease individual risk to kidney disease, depending on the feeding habit.
He, however, recommended the intake of large amount of vegetables, fruits as well as moderate carbohydrates, as preventive measures against the diseases.
As part of the measures to ward off the disease, the consultant further advised on the intake of moderate amount of chicken and fish, and low amount of salt.
According to him, imbibing these healthy behaviours would go a long way in reducing the risks of kidney, heart and brain diseases.