{"id":958,"date":"2014-11-24T13:27:05","date_gmt":"2014-11-24T13:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thinkkidneys.nhs.uk\/aki\/?p=958"},"modified":"2014-11-24T13:27:05","modified_gmt":"2014-11-24T13:27:05","slug":"acute-kidney-injury-lets-work-together-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thinkkidneys.nhs.uk\/aki\/blog\/acute-kidney-injury-lets-work-together-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Acute kidney injury – let’s work together for change"},"content":{"rendered":"

A couple of years ago I was admitted to hospital with flu-like symptoms and possible dehydration; before I fainted I recall asking what the team were checking me for. \u2018Acute kidney injury\u2019, came the reply, which both reassured but also worried me.\u00a0 It reassured me because the very fact I was being checked meant I was in the right place, but it worried me as my role on the NICE guideline development group for acute kidney injury meant that I understood more than most people what that could mean. It was also the very first time anyone had ever spoken to me about my risk of acute kidney injury, despite a long history of chronic kidney disease (CKD), eventually dialysis and then transplantation.<\/p>\n

Over the years I have become not just expert in my own condition, but I\u2019ve also had the privilege to work with many people with CKD through my various roles nationally and locally. No-one ever talked about acute kidney injury and yet people with kidney disease, many of who have become experts in their own care, are at very high risk of developing it. And if this is how it is for people like me, you may start to grasp why the general population will not have any idea whether they or indeed a relative, could be at risk or what they can do about it anyway.<\/p>\n

So, what is acute kidney injury and what can you do to avoid it?<\/p>\n

When the kidneys suddenly stop working properly, often occurring when someone is being treated as an emergency, perhaps because they have a major health problem such as pneumonia or some types of cancer, this is acute kidney injury. While that major problem or infection is being focused on by healthcare specialists, the kidneys can be really struggling. This may be because of issues such as dehydration, an obstruction or medicines which are normally appropriate but which should be suspended during the emergency.<\/p>\n

Many people make a good recovery from acute kidney injury, but a significant number do not. \u00a0So there\u2019s a really strong case for raising awareness of acute kidney injury because in many cases it can be avoided. That\u2019s what the \u2018Think Kidneys\u2019 programme is all about.<\/p>\n

Of course there are practical things people can do to try to help themselves and safeguard their kidneys, and here are a couple of suggestions:<\/p>\n