Turner, who lived with kidney disease for more than a decade, was a fierce advocate for kidney health.
Kidney Health Australia CEO Chris Forbes said the star was instrumental in raising awareness for kidney health worldwide.
“We owe Tina Turner a great debt. She was a wonderful crusader for the cause, urging people to get their kidneys checked,” he said. “She was also the face of an international campaign for kidney disease earlier this year.”
In one of her most recent statements on her social channels, Turner shared her battle with kidney disease and recounted how high pressure led to her kidney issues. She urged people to ‘show your kidney some love’.
The global superstar had suffered from high blood pressure since 1978, and after a stroke in 2009 discovered she had lost 35 per cent kidney function.
Tina went onto dialysis for nine months before receiving a kidney transplant in 2017 when her husband Erwin Bach donated one of his kidneys.
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Turner’s death coincided with Kidney Health Week. As part of their mission to raise awareness and promote kidney health across the country, Kidney Health Australia is urging adults to take a simple two-minute online test to determine if they are at risk of developing kidney disease.
Three in four Australians are at risk of kidney disease, with the highest contributing factors being diabetes and high blood pressure.
Of the 2 million – or around one in 10 – Australian adults affected by kidney disease, 1.8 million are completely unaware of it, most likely due to the lack of symptoms. However, an easy online test could be the reality check they need.
The online test developed by Kidney Health Australia can be taken anywhere, any time, and includes nine questions that help to identify your risk of kidney disease. The test will determine whether a follow-up appointment with your GP for a Kidney Health Check is recommended – a simple check that could save your life.
Chronic kidney disease is an under-diagnosed condition. By the time people notice any symptoms, up to 90 per cent of kidney function is often lost, making it too late to stop or even slow down the disease.
Take the two-minute test on the Kidney Health Australia website here. For more information visit www.kidney.org.au/atrisk.
