During a heatwave the Met Office advise people to take action to avoid becoming unwell.
Kidney patients should take extra care to protect themselves during the hot weather.
Fiona Loud, Policy Director at Kidney Care UK, says: “Many people don’t realise that people with kidney disease who are on dialysis will be on fluid restrictions, and only allowed an average of around 500ml (or two glasses of water) per day. In this heat they are likely to sweat more so can drink a bit more, but we also advise them to keep cool and to use ice cubes and ice lollies to ensure they stay hydrated.
"Conversely, people who have had a kidney transplant should drink more as they need to keep their kidneys well hydrated. They must also take extra care in the sun because the medicines they take to ensure their body doesn’t reject the new kidney puts them at increased risk of developing skin cancer. They should avoid the sun at peak times, and if they spend time outside make sure they have a hat and factor 50 sun protection."
Keeping safe during a heatwave if you are on dialysis:
- Speak to your kidney team about the right fluid allowance for you
- Keep cool
- Stay hydrated with ice cubes and ice lollies
Read renal dietitian Laura Kyte's tips for reducing your salt intake and quenching your thirst if you are following a fluid restriction diet.
Keeping safe during a heatwave if you have had a transplant:
- Keep your kidneys well hydrated by drinking more
- Take extra care in the sun
Stay hydrated in the heat
Avoiding dehydration is critical because kidney patients on many medications are at particular risk of developing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) if they get dehydrated. AKI affects 1 in 5 people admitted to hospital as an emergency and may be more deadly than a heart attack.
If you are worried that you might be dehydrated, check the Think Kidney’s ‘healthy pee’ guide below.
