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1 of 3 Israelis, over 50 years old, will develop chronic kidney disease.
concerning data published today reveals that in the last decade
the number of kidney patients in Israel has doubled. Our health correspondent with the details.
I have not worked now for over four and a half years,
why?
Because I can't, my work is here in the hospital, this is my job.
In the first year of dialysis I would cover my face, so that people wouldn't see me, wouldn't know who I am.
Ido and Ariella are only two out of 5,500 patients in Israel waiting for a kidney transplant.
You live from day to day, that is it. only today and I don't dare even thinking of tomorrow.
The dialysis treatment may save the lives of patients and prolong their survival until the transplant,
but it is also their prison.
three to four times of treatment, a week, for at least four hours at a time,
but the real issue is the dramatic change in lifestyle, in eating and drinking.
What happens in dialysis is that the liquids are not removed properly from the body,
and then this machine on the right, that functions as my kidney, it removes the liquids,
the more liquids I drink, as swollen as I am, I will swell up even more.
I miss touching a strawberry, eating a banana, but excuse me for saying this,
after this, it's like suicide, it's going directly to the emergency room, I've been there.
The only solution for dialysis patients is kidney transplant,
and notice the alarming statistics: a rise of 75% in the number of patients
who need dialysis in the last decade, and a 100% rise in death toll.
Andi f that's not enough, one of every three people over the age of 50 will be diagnosed with CKD.
there is always room for improvement of course; there is room to improve awareness in the general population
and also among general physicians, of the importance of monitoring renal functions.
Mostly, the public is not aware to the difficulties for dialysis patients,
and to the fact that chronic kidney illness is preventable and treatable.
Early diagnosis can be done in a very simple method, through blood tests,
every citizen has taken blood tests a few times in his life. by doing so,
if a risk was diagnosed or any other finding, the problem can be taken care of accordingly,
and prevent a large amount of problems in the future.
The state invests 1.1 billion NIS every year to treat these patients,
but it is clear that by putting some efforts into guidance and prevention,
we would be able to spare not only money - but also human lives.
The End