India has the highest number of renal patients in the world !
Today is World Kidney Day!
On World Kidney Day, our expert contributor on Community Healthcare, *Dr Naresh Purohit, (Principal Investigator of the Association of Studies for Kidney Care) lists the important causes of Kidney Disease and their Remedies!
New Delhi/ Bhopal: India has the highest number of renal patients in the world. 10% of In
dian population is affected by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and it may soon be 5th leading cause of death in India . 2 lakhs die annually in the country due to a lack of awareness of kidney disease.
Around two lakh people in the country were afflicted by CKD and half of the cases developed serious complications while 25,000 people required frequent dialysis or transplantation annually .There is a significant rise in kidney diseases in Bhopal. The reason for this is a diet rich in oil and fats . People maintain a sedentary lifestyle.
Diabetes, along with hypertension, account for 70 per cent of CKD cases. While high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in kidneys, a similar condition is caused by uncontrolled high blood pressure. Besides, other factors like obesity also make a person susceptible to CKD.
Research studies have revealed that Madhya Pradesh has a significant number of cases of renal stones, which can also lead to kidney disease. Unregulated consumption of painkillers also trigger CKD in a person.
He pointed that obesity and being overweight are major risk factors for chronic kidney disease and is related to the disease progress. Moreover, obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes and hypertension as well, w
hich together account for about 70% of all cases of end-stage renal disease.
As the kidneys weaken, excretory products accumulate in the body and start affecting various organs. High blood pressure and high sugar levels are the most common causes contributing to kidney damage. Other reasons for kidney damage are genetic, autoimmune, urine outflows problems like prostate, and kidney stones, herbal products, and medicines like painkillers.
Kidney diseas
e is usually undetected in the first and second stages, as it is asymptomatic. Regular screening of individuals predisposed to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) can recognise the early stages. In later stages, patients might develop symptoms in the form of low energy levels, low appetite, nausea, vomiting, and feeling short of breath while doing regular work, And in pre-dialysis stages extreme shortness of breath, seizures, altered sensorium, and tremors.
Keep diabetes, hypertension and obesity under control. Regular check-ups for these diseases and the use of medications can help prevent their side effects from affecting the kidneys.
*Dr. Narresh Purohit-MD, DNB, DIH, MHA, MRCP(UK), is an Epidemiologist, 
and Advisor-National Communicable Disease Control Program of Govt. of India, Madhya Pradesh and several state Health organizations. He’s the Principle Investigator – Association of Studies In Behavioural Science), Dr. Purohit is also Advisor-National Mental Health Program .
