For healthy kidneys

Nephrologists tell you the warning signs and foods to avoid to keep your kidneys healthy

Globally acute and chronic kidney disease is now recognised as a major medical problem and in several countries it is now among the top five causes of death. In India, kidney disease is ranked as the eighth leading cause of death.

Kidneys are very important parts of the body that perform critical functions such as regulating the acid content, potassium, and salt content. Along with producing Vitamin D and balancing the body’s fluids, kidneys also perform waste removal of the body.

It is true that early signs of kidney diseases are not easily attributable. But that is not the reason to stay ignorant of the most common symptoms. While the best way to know if there is any issue with the kidneys is to get tested by a doctor, it is still highly recommended to look out for the following most commonly observed symptoms of kidney diseases:

• Fatigue and lack of concentration: Build up of toxins and impurities in the blood can be the result of a severe decrease in kidney function. This can exhaust people and can make it hard to concentrate. Anaemia is another complication of kidney disease, which can cause weakness and fatigue.
• Trouble in sleeping: When the kidneys do not filter properly, toxins stay in the blood rather than leaving the body through the urine. This can make it difficult to sleep. Also compared with the general population,sleep apnoea is more common in those with chronic kidney disease,.
• Dry and itchy skin: Advanced kidney diseases, when the kidneys are no longer able to keep the right balance of minerals and nutrients in the blood are often accompanied by mineral and bone diseases and dry and itchy skin can be a sign of that.
• Increase in tendency to urinate: The increasing urge to urinate, especially at night can be an indicator to kidney diseases. When the kidney’s filters are damaged, it can cause an increase in the tendency to urinate. But sometimes it can also be a sign of a urinary infection or enlarged prostate in men.
• Blood in urine: While healthy kidneys typically keep the blood cells in the body when filtering wastes from the blood to create urine, the damaged kidney filters can “leak” out the blood cells into the urine.In addition to being a sign for kidney diseases, blood in the urine can also be indicative of tumors, kidney stones or an infection.
• Foamy urine: Excessive bubbles in the urine indicate presence of protein in the urine. It can be a sign of kidney issues.
• Persistent puffiness around the eyes: Due to damage of kidney's filters, the protein of the body happens to leak into the urine. Puffiness around the eyes can be due to the fact that the kidneys are leaking a large amount of protein in the urine, rather than keeping it in the body.

• Swollen ankles and feet: Decrease in the function of kidney can lead to sodium retention, causing swelling in your feet and ankles. However, swelling in the lower extremities can also be a sign of heart disease, liver disease and chronic leg vein problems.
• Poor appetite: It is a general symptom for so many diseases. But that does not cancel the possibility of it being a potential symptom of kidney diseases as the build-up of toxins resulting from reduced kidney function can be one of the causes.

In view of rising burden of kidney disease, there is an urgent need to make people aware not only about the symptoms for preventive measures but also about the advanced treatment now available.

The writer is Dr Vikram Kalra, Additional Director, Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Aakash Healthcare

LOOK OUT FOR

There is a link between inflammation, chronic disease and certain foods. There are food which have antioxidants, these antioxidants neutralises from radicals and protect the body. Most of these foods are good for kidney health.

• Garlic: It lowers cholesterol and reduce inflammation. You can add it to the vegetables, lentils and spinach.
• Onion: It contain Quercet, a powerful anti-oxidant, that can help to reduce heart disease and provide protection against certain cancers. Onions also contains Chromium, which helps in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism.
• Cauliflower: It contains Indoles, Glucosinolates and Thiocyanates, they help liver neutralise toxins that can damage DNA. It is also packed with Vitamins C, folate and fibers.
• Cabbage: It contains phytochemicals, which neutralises free radicals and hence protects against cancer and foster cardiovascular health. They are a good source of Vitamin C, K, B6, folate and fibers. Cabbage are low in potassium, hence good for patients with kidney disease.
• Red bell pepper: They are rich in Vitamin A, C, B6, folate and fibers. They are low in potassium and rich in antioxidant — lycopene.
• Apple: They are high in fiber and anti- inflammatory compound. Potassium content is low in apple, which is good for patients having kidney disease.
• Red Grapes: They contain flavonoids which are anti-oxidants and is cardio protective and reduces formation of blood clots. Resveratrol, found in grapes improves blood flow by stimulating nitric oxide.
• Fish: It contains high quality protein and anti - inflammatory fat, omega-3. Omega-3 helps lower LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and raises HDL cholesterol (Good cholesterol)
• Olive Oil: Mono unsaturated fat and polyphenols in olive oil are antioxidant and anti- inflammatory

The writer is Dr Umesh Gupta, Senior Consultant & Director, Nephrology, Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital

STAY AWAY

Being the most important part of human body, we compromise it with some of our common habits

• Painkiller addiction: To counter your body pains, people take NSAD (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) which affects kidney. Doctors advise to reduce the doses and stuck to recommended dosage only.
• Processed foods: One of the studies has warned that the consumption of junk and processed food cause damage to kidneys, cause heart diseases in long run and also triggers diabetes, digestive problems, weakness, fatigue, and abnormal blood sugar level.
• Less drinking water intake: Intake of adequate drinking water, cleanses the toxins from your body and keep you safe from kidney problems as painful kidney stones
• Alcohol intake: Excess alcohol intake doubles the risk of chronic kidney disease and if, heavy drinkers are smoker too then the chance of kidney diseases increase five times than people who don’t drink or smoke.
• Missing night sleep: Taking less sleep during night hours, increases the working hour of Kidney and disturbs its overall kidney function.
• Eating foods with high sugar level:  It is advisable to avoid sugar concentrated food items, if your blood sugar level gets more than 180mg/dl, then kidney starts flushing out sugar into urine. It indicates sugar is causing damage to your kidney.
• Too much red meat: Intake of high amount of red meat (pork) increases the protein level in our body that generates acids in the blood that is harmful for kidney and cause acidosis.

The writer is Dr Sunil Prakash, Senior Consultant & Director, Nephrology & Renal Transplantation, BLK Super Speciality Hospital