Kidney Health – Facing the Facts

Observed on the 12th of March, World Kidney Day Celebration is an attempt to educate people about the severity of kidney diseases and encourage them to get periodic kidney tests which is a vital pre-requisite to early diagnosis

Did you know…?

In India, 1 out of 10 people is diagnosed with some form of Kidney Disease. Although most kidney diseases are preventable & curable, they are still highly prevalent not just in India but across the globe as well. The bad news here is that in more than half of the cases, patients don’t even realize that they have a kidney disease until almost 60% of their kidney is affected or damaged. Here are a few very important facts that every individual should know about this bean-shaped organ within the body:

Fact 1 – Situated on both sides of the spine, Kidneys not only purify the blood, but also:

• Regulate the proportion of water within the body
• Discard toxins & drugs introduces into the body
• Release hormones into the blood
• Keep blood pressure in control
• Help in the production of red blood cells
• Remove wastes & fluid from the body
• Promote healthy bone development

Fact 2 – Diabetes, High blood pressure and Hardening of the arteries are 3 of the most common causes of Kidney diseases. People suffering from any of these illnesses, are more susceptible than others to develop Kidney diseases at any point of time. Avoid these Kidney damaging habits:

• Delaying urination
• Excessive Salt intake
• Eating too much meat
• Caffeine Dependency
• Reduced intake of water
• Delaying periodic medical check-ups/ Delayed Treatment

Fact 2 – Kidney disease can be a silent killer mainly due to the fact that it rarely shows obvious symptoms. Watch out for these signs:

• Alteration in the amount/frequency of passing urine and changes in color of the urine
• Abdominal pain especially in areas where the kidneys are located
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Headache
• Swollen legs & ankles
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Low appetite
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Bad breath

Fact 3 – With every decade after the age of 30, your kidney function will decline by 10%. This means that you have to take extra care of your kidneys in order to prevent any kind of damage.

Why not take precautions early in life and minimize the load on kidneys? These simple tips will reduce the risk of developing kidney problems:

• Stay hydrated – Drink plenty of water
• Do not resist the urge to urinate
• Exercise regularly – Keep your blood pressure in control
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to manage Diabetes, blood pressure & heart disease which can lead to kidney damage
• Follow a healthy diet & reduce your salt intake
• Avoid smoking & consumption of alcoholic beverages
• Keep away from pain killers
• Include more of healthy beverages in your diet and avoid caffeinated drinks
• Do not skip your periodic medical check-ups. Get your kidney functions checked within timely intervals

Fact 4 – Diet plays an important role in keeping the kidneys healthy and functioning properly. These antioxidant and vitamin-rich foods will not only protect your kidneys but also benefit damaged kidneys:

• Red Bell peppers
• Onion
• Cabbage
• Garlic
• Apples
• Cauliflower
• Egg whites

In spite of the fact that most people are born with two kidneys, it is still the most transplanted organ in the world. Reversing the global incidence of kidney disease begins with proper awareness. This World Kidney Day, pledge to adopt a healthy lifestyle and share maximum information about the health risks associated with this vital organ.

The very thought of Board Exams is enough to make a student feel highly stressed and anxious but as parents it is our responsibility to make our children feel relaxed and help them go through this phase with the right frame of mind. Parents have a very important role to play in helping their children cope with the exam stress. Their actions can either motivate the children or pressurize them to score more. Motivation and moral support from parents has shown to help a child’s academic performance whereas putting too much pressure on the child to score high in exams can actually reduce his/her mental capabilities and add to the stress levels.

These tips will help you as a parent in keeping your child at ease during exams:

• Make sure that your child gets proper sleep. Stressing over exams often leads to children missing out on their nap times which can have a detrimental impact on their concentration levels during the exam. Late night studies may work for some kids but not all can cope with the lethargy that accompanies with this habit.
• Be a part of your child’s study routine by taking up their revisions. Ask them if there are certain concepts that they do not understand and try your best to offer them an easy explanation for the same. If unable to do so, you can always get help from their teacher or tuition teacher or another parent.
• Ease up the environment at home. Exams cannot be taken lightly, and yes, as a parent you must ensure that the child follows a certain study routine when it comes to preparing for his/her exams but sometimes parents tend to go overboard in disciplining their child. This could prove to be counter-productive. What you can do, is try to create a relaxing atmosphere at home whereby you have a friendly chat with the child about topics other than exams/studies. Allow them to indulge in some of their favorite pass time for an hour or so. This will create a relaxing ambiance at home. If you are relaxed, the conscious and subconscious parts of the mind interact in a better way, thereby reducing the chances of freezing up during exams.
• Ensure that your child follows a proper Diet. It is recommended for children of all ages to meet their nutritional requirements in order to promote proper growth and body functioning. During exams, it is natural for a child to experience some amount of anxiety and nervousness which is why their diet has to be constantly monitored. Avoid junk food which can trigger stomach problems. Also eliminate frozen items like ice-creams & cold drinks which can result in throat infections with fever like symptoms. Focus on providing them with a balanced diet that includes food items which are easily digestible.
• Guide them in the right direction and give them your total support. When children know that their parents will always support them regardless of their scores, the entire ordeal becomes a lot stress free which consequently puts a positive spin on their overall performance during exams. This can be done with the help of encouragement not pressure.

Make your kids feel secure by being there for them in every step of the way. Stress will automatically take a backseat

Cancer affects everyone, regardless of their age, sex, religion, ethnicity, financial status and geographic location. Several media personalities including Yuvraj Singh, Lisa Ray & Manisha Koirala have been diagnosed with cancer and later declared cancer-free with the help of proper treatment.

This year, World Cancer Day will be celebrated with a theme – ‘Not Beyond us’. This theme highlights the fact that proper intervention of cancer is not out of people’s reach. It means that choosing healthy lives; delivering early detection; achieving treatment for all and maximizing quality of life is NOT BEYOND US

Cancer remains one of the most dominant diseases in India with the highest mortality rate. Research indicates that 1 out of 10 Indians are at a risk of getting cancer before the age of 75, while 7 out of 100 Indians are at the risk of dying due to cancer before their 75th birthday. With a million new cases being reported each year, experts warn that the incidence of this killer disease could increase 5 times by the year 2025.

Tobacco is the single most important factor which causes cancer in India. Other factors can be both internal (hormonal, poor immune system, genetic, mutations etc.) and external or environmental factors (unhealthy food habits, industrialization, over population, poor lifestyle etc.). Cancer is an illness that challenges the basics of a person’s existence in terms of how he/she feels, appears, works and lives. Statistics also reveal that Indian women are diagnosed with cancer more than men. Some of the most commonly detected cancers in India are cancers of the lung & oral cavity in men, and of the breast & cervix in women.

When it comes to cancer, the proverb – ‘Prevention is better than cure’ seems to be very apt. Doctors all over the world believe that most cancers can be treated with the best results if detected at an early stage. It is estimated that in India approximately 70 % lives are taken away in the first year itself, due to late detection. A study conducted also indicated that the survival rate of cancer in India is among the lowest in the world.

These statistics are alarming and makes us wonder if India is actually losing its battle against Cancer

In spite of having world-class medical facilities and advanced treatment options, the increase in cancer mortality rates can be attributed to lack of awareness and absence of timely treatment. Also, what cannot be ignored is our country’s healthcare infrastructure within the rural areas which is not sufficiently equipped to deal with all facets of cancer care – prevention, early detection, treatment and palliative care.

World Cancer Day is the perfect opportunity to increase awareness and spread the word that there is a lot that can be done at an individual, community & governmental level to reduce the burden of cancer in our society. Knowing the facts could save your life or the life of someone you love.

Let’s take part in this global initiative and help India build a string defense in its fight against cancer.

To know more about World Cancer Day, visit the official website: https://www.worldcancerday.org

The Centre for Cancer at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital brings together the expertise within the hospital to provide comprehensive and coordinated care for patients with all types of cancers, including solid tumours and blood related diseases. For details, visit: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_cancer.html