Nollywood actress Ufuoma McDermott has opened up about her long-standing struggle with kidney disease, which she linked to prolonged use of painkillers.
In a recent interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, she urged the public to make health a top priority, sharing insights from her personal journey.
McDermott, who has been managing kidney disease for over a decade, explained that her condition stemmed from her habitual use of strong painkillers to cope with persistent migraines and headaches. 
“I grew up with migraines, headaches, and eyeaches,” she recounted. “I never wore my glasses because they made me look like a geek. I’d take strong painkillers to make the pain go away.”
Over time, the consistent drug use took a toll on her kidneys, leading to the chronic condition.
The actress shared that her family was further impacted when her brother was diagnosed with late-stage kidney disease, requiring immediate dialysis.
This spurred her to seek answers about potential genetic links. However, doctors traced both siblings’ kidney issues to a shared history of long-term painkiller use rather than heredity.
“I really wish everyone would understand the importance of health,” she advised, underscoring the need for public awareness on responsible medication use and regular health check-ups.
