To avoid renal ailments, stick to healthy diet, daily workout

Citing that renal ailments are among the top 10 causes for fastest growing causes of death in the world, doctors say that a healthy diet and regular exercise can keep the risk of kidney diseases at bay. “Kidneys are not only responsible for excretion of metabolic waste from the body, but also for maintaining adequate haemoglobin percentage, blood pressure, water content of the body and electrolytes (sodium, potassium),” KIMS ICON Hospital consultant nephrologist and transplant physician Dr. K.R. Mahesh said ahead of the World Kidney Day which will be observed on March 14 (Thursday). The theme for this year is “Kidney health for every one and every where”. “The The objective of the day is to raise global awareness about the existing disparities and inequities of kidney health despite the growing burden of renal ailments worldwide,” Dr. Mahesh said.

Symptoms
Throwing light on the symptoms and complications, he said malfunctioning of one or both kidneys leads to a myriad of problems causing morbidity and mortality. “Kidney dysfunction can be suspected when a person develops symptoms such as swelling of feet, distension of abdomen, puffiness of face, breathing difficulty, froth in the urine, change in colour of urine, burning sensation during urination, difficulty in passing urine and low urine output per day,” Dr. Mahesh explained.

The potential risk for renal dysfunction starts from birth in the form of low birth weight ( less than 2 to 2.5 kg ) either due to pre-term delivery and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Underlining the need for antenatal mothers to have regular check-ups, he said those with history of heart or liver dysfunctions, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, prolonged consumption of painkillers, patients with recurrent urinary tract infections, people living in endemic areas such as in north coastal Andhra Pradesh (Uddanam), Chimakurthy mandal of Prakasam district and Mondupalem near Anakapalle in Visakhapatnam run the risk of getting chronic kidney disease (CKD).

“Regular exercise, healthy diet, drinking clean water, maintaining ideal body weight and avoiding consumption of alcohol and nicotine can prevent the renal ailments,” he added.