Healthy lifestyle keeps kidney ailments at bay

 India is on the verge of becoming the capital of chronic and acute kidney diseases owing to spiralling incidence of diabetes and hypertension. 

    The National Kidney Foundation of India estimates that every 100 in one million people suffer from kidney ailment and 2-4 million people are diagnosed with kidney failure every year. 
    Nephrologists say about 90,000 kidney transplants are required annually in India, but only 22.5% patients on dialysis receive the donation. Dr Gokulnath, professor and head of the department, nephrology, St John's Hospital, said: "Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be prevented through simple lifestyle changes. If untreated, CKD can cause kidney failure." 
    Experts point out that small lifestyle changes can go a long way in eliminating the possibility of developing kidney complications. Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, senior nephrologist and medical director, Manipal Hospital, said: "If you 
don't want a kidney ailment, you must avoid certain lifestyle and dietary habits that can cause diabetes and hypertension. Consuming less calories, and salt and sugar, and regular exercise are a must. So is drinking at least two litres of water every day. Also, one should never pop a pill without consulting a doctor. Else, the pill might pop up your kidney." 
Women more generous organ donors: Study 
Chennai: This year, on World Kidney Day on Thursday, healthcare workers in city planned programmes to felicitate women — not just because it is Women's Day, but also because women have been rated to be more altruistic as organ donors than men. Women outnumber men in all types of organ donation, say doctors. "The women in a family are very often the first to offer to donate an organ. If the patient is a child, the donors are usually the mother. Wives are usually the donors when men need a transplant," said Dr P Sounderajan, chief of nephrology, Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre. Of the 90 transplant cases between spouses that he took up, over 70 donors were women. Transplant surgeons across the country report similar statistics. TNN
THE PRESCRIPTION 

• Drink a minimum 2 litres of water every day 

• Consume less calories, salt and sugar 

• Exercise regularly 

• Don't smoke 

• Don't eat junk food 

• Don't work for long hours in front of a computer