Kidney Day is observed all over the world on the second Thursday of March every year. Incidence of kidney failure cases is increasing day by day due to a steep increase in the number of diabetes and hypertensive patients in the recent past. Globally, nearly 50 million people suffer from renal failure but only 1 million among them undergo treatment. It has been estimated that 360 million people will die of renal failure in 2015.
Though there are no accurate statistics on the subject, the available data shows that 7.58 million people in India are suffering from kidney failure. Surveys conducted point out that less than 5%of the general public is aware of the location and functions of the kidney.
It was to create awareness among the people that Joel Kopple, the founder of International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF), conceived the idea of World Kidney Day (WKD) in the year 2003. The day offers a crucial and visible opportunity to educate policymakers as well as the general public including all those who are at the risk of kidney disease/failure.
The kidney does a magnificent job in our urological system, thus becoming a unique organ in the body. Every day, it filters 200 litres of blood. It is an amazing organ not only excreting urine from the blood, but also maintaining the body electrolyte, maintaining blood pH, synthesises active form of vitD3. It produces Erythroprotien, which is essential for maturation of the red blood corpuscles and to maintain the blood pressure.
Then why does the kidney fail? It can fail due to uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, failure to take proper treatment for the nephritic syndrome (excess protein in the urine), prolonged obstruction in the urinary tract, frequent use of analgesic (pain-killers) tablets, use of native medicine made of the metals, and a family history of renal disease. Some do suffer from kidney failure, without any specific or identifiable cause. Various reports from Sri Lankan studies reveal that environmental factors like the use of pesticides, use of medicines containing metals, hydrocarbon, etc., too can cause kidney failure.
Chronic kidney failure causes severe economic burden to the individual and his family, and to the nation as a whole on dialysis and renal transplantation. Such patients undergo a lot of stress and strain for want of a potential donor for transplant, most often resulting in depression. With frequent rackets and malpractices involving kidney donation which have become common, in spite of the strict enforcement of rules, the motivation of brain-death patients for organ donation is the only alternative for transplantation.
Prevention is always better than cure. In order to prevent kidney failures, it is essential that everyone knows about the kidney and its importance. There are eight golden rules which help to avoid kidney failures.
1. Keep fit and active. Maintain ideal body weight.
2. Keep regular control of blood sugar.
3. Monitor your blood pressure.
4. Eat healthy and keep your weight in check.
5. Maintain a healthy fluid intake.
6. Do not smoke.
7. Do not take over-the-counter pills regularly.
8. Check your kidneys function if you have any one or more of the high risk factors. The theme for the this year's World Kidney Day (March 8) was: “DONATE — RECEIVE — KIDNEYS FOR LIFE”
(The writer is retired Professor of Nephrology, Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. His email is mohandas562@gmail.com)
Keywords: World Kidney Day, kidney transplant
I am a dialysis technologist. I would like to share a poem -
DIALYSIS - AN AGONY FOR GOOD!
The diagnosis is over!
Kidney has failed
No go other
Than dialysis to be done.
The cost so high,
The pain so deep,
They just sigh;
And depression creeps.
Rich become paupers;
And paupers debtors.
For life becomes dearer -
As the fear of death enters.
In the midst of dialysis
Some meet death and come back,
While others say goodbye to life forever.
Transplantation may be the remedy for some,
while for some this may be a failure.
For four hours belt fastened to their seats
This is not a pleasure, for as flight travel may be.
To be pricked and repricked
Not once but thrice a week
An agony, how distressing it must be!
Breathlessness and edema,
vomiting and cramps
With antibiotics and antihypertensives,
There continues an anti-renal failure fight
To survive and to see days good and bright.
Patient still in dilemma!
Dialysis - an agony or good?
The only answer -
Dialysis - an agony for good!
It makes an excellent enlightment of the kidney function.the eight golden aspects of the malady should create an awareness among the people and and it will definitely pave way for a better living .I congratulate the Doctor for the timely warning thanks gandhi
Thanks doctor for a very informative article. Could you please advise
what are essential Kidney function tests and how often they should be
done? Is the appearance of excess protein in urine due to kidney disease
or problem in some other organ?
Hello,
I like this article of yours, It is quite informative. Renal failure is a chronic condition that nobody should get and article like this brings awareness and helps to stay protected against renal failure. I hope to see more of such articles from your side and with more information. Thankyou very much for this article.
Dear Dr ,
Excellent article , still lot of awarness required by the medical faculties , your article is eye opener for all ....
very useful and practical advice on kidney function and how important
function it does to the human body.We should lead a healthy life to
protect our kidneys. Those who are diabetic should be more careful in
maintaining a healthy kidney
A very very useful and awareness information,these type information not only published in one or two news papaer but this information capusle form require to broadcaste on Radio & TV.
Fantastic article. Till now I was thinking that kidney is just filtering
out urine from blood. But now understand the greater responsibility of
this amazing organ for human life...
Thanks for the enlightenment on the subject, especially, as we grow older and tend to keep our appetite intact, we are diving in to risk our kidneys long before their appointed day comes.
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