1. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a slow, progressive and irreversible destruction of the filtering units of the kidney.
2. It leads to retention of excess water and toxic substances in the blood, affecting all cells of the body.
3. CKD can lead to heart attack, heart failure and paralytic strokes, besides other peripheral vascular diseases.
CAUSES OF CKD
1. The two leading causes of CKD are high blood pressure and diabetes, which are now even found in kids and young adults.
2. Obesity, smoking, use of tobacco products, high salt intake are other risk factors for high BP, CVD and CKD.
3. There are no outward symptoms at the early stage of CKD.
4. The advanced stage, when the filtering power of the kidneys is down to around 10%, is known as End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
5. At that stage, life can be sustained only through dialysis or kidney
transplantation.
PREVENTION
1. Avoid unhealthy lifestyle practices, sedentary habits and overeating.
2. Maintain normal body weight according to your BMI.
3. Eat fresh and seasonal fruits, green leafy vegetables, and low fat dairy products.
4. Reduce saturated and total fats, sugar and starch.
5. Limit your salt intake to 6 grams a day.
6. Avoid alcohol and smoking, including passive smoking.
7. Do aerobic exercises, such as brisk walking, for at least 30 minutes a day regularly.
8. Get a kidney function test (KFT) done regularly, especially if you have risk factors like high BP, diabetes and obesity, or if you smoke, are over 40 years of age, and have a family history of kidney disease, or had high BP during pregnancy.
2. It leads to retention of excess water and toxic substances in the blood, affecting all cells of the body.
3. CKD can lead to heart attack, heart failure and paralytic strokes, besides other peripheral vascular diseases.
CAUSES OF CKD
1. The two leading causes of CKD are high blood pressure and diabetes, which are now even found in kids and young adults.
2. Obesity, smoking, use of tobacco products, high salt intake are other risk factors for high BP, CVD and CKD.
3. There are no outward symptoms at the early stage of CKD.
4. The advanced stage, when the filtering power of the kidneys is down to around 10%, is known as End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
5. At that stage, life can be sustained only through dialysis or kidney
transplantation.
PREVENTION
1. Avoid unhealthy lifestyle practices, sedentary habits and overeating.
2. Maintain normal body weight according to your BMI.
3. Eat fresh and seasonal fruits, green leafy vegetables, and low fat dairy products.
4. Reduce saturated and total fats, sugar and starch.
5. Limit your salt intake to 6 grams a day.
6. Avoid alcohol and smoking, including passive smoking.
7. Do aerobic exercises, such as brisk walking, for at least 30 minutes a day regularly.
8. Get a kidney function test (KFT) done regularly, especially if you have risk factors like high BP, diabetes and obesity, or if you smoke, are over 40 years of age, and have a family history of kidney disease, or had high BP during pregnancy.