World Kidney Day 2020: Theme, Significance, Quotes, Kidney Diet, Do’s and Don’ts

World Kidney Day 2020: This day aims to highlight the importance of kidneys. Kidney stones are a common kidney disease which is one of the most painful medical conditions. Here’s the list of foods you should eat and avoid to avoid kidney stones.

World Kidney Day is observed on March 12 every year. This day aims to highlight the importance of kidneys to overall health. It also tries to spread information about different kidney diseases and how to prevent these. Kidney stones are a painful condition. These stones are hard deposits that form inside the kidneys.

A kidney stone can cause severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs. Other symptoms of kidney stones may include pain during urination, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, urination more than usual and persistent need to urinate.

You can avoid kidney stones with right diet. Drinking enough water is considered as the best practice to keep your kidneys healthy. The more liquid in your diet, the lesser is the risk of developing kidney stones and other kidney diseases. Here are some basics of a kidney stone diet.

World Kidney Day 2020: Date

World Kidney Day is an annual event. On every second Thursday in the month of March, the World Kidney Day is celebrated.

This year, on March 12, 2020 the World Kidney Day will be observed.

Who organises World Kidney Day?

According to the National Health Portal of India, two international bodies jointly organise the global campaign. The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF) take the initiative together.

World Kidney Day 2020: Theme

The event focuses on “preventive interventions” to avoid the onset and progression of kidney diseases.

This year’s theme is ‘Kidney health for everyone everywhere – from prevention to detection and equitable access to care’.

Empowerment of patients, educational campaigns, proper training for medical services and encouraging people to adapt to a healthier lifestyle to reduce the chances of being affected by a kidney disease are some of the sectors World Kidney Day focuses on.

World Kidney Day 2020: History and Significance

2020 marks the 15th observance of the World Kidney Day. The first time World Kidney Day was celebrated in 2006. As many as 66 countries came together. Now, the participant number has increased to 88.

Kidney diseases are non-communicable and currently affect 850 million people across the world. The ISN calls for people to spread a positive message of prevention and support this World Kidney Day. In 2020, World Kidney Day would ask people to raise awareness of the “increasing burden of kidney diseases worldwide” and to strive for “kidney health for everyone, everywhere”.

World kidney day 2020: Kidney stone diet do’s and don’ts

1. What to eat-

Add more citrus to your diet: Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, lemon or pineapple are can help you reduce the risk of developing kidney stones. You can consume either fruit or fruit juice.

Add more calcium to your diet: Good levels of calcium can also help you prevent the formation of kidney stones. Add more dairy to your diet or other sources of calcium legumes, dark green vegetables, nuts and seeds. Also, add vitamin D to your diet for better calcium absorption.

Moderate amount of plant-based protein: It is advised to add plant-based protein to your diet in moderation. Whereas, animal-based protein should be strictly avoided.

2. What to avoid-

Limit salt: High sodium diet can significantly increase the risk of developing kidney stones. Most processed foods are high in salt and sugar. Avoid consuming too much salt.

Animal protein: Many are dependent on animal-based foods for protein requirements. Adding too much animal-based protein can reduce the levels of chemicals in the urine which prevents kidney stone formation. It is advised to consume animal-based protein in moderation.

Signs and symptoms of kidney failure you must note

Loss of blood flow to the kidney can make increase risk of kidney failure. Heart attack, heart disease, scarring of liver, dehydration, an allergic reaction, a severe infection or a severe burn can result in loss of blood flow the kidneys. Also, high blood pressure and some anti-inflammatory medications may limit blood flow to the kidneys.

Following are other causes of kidney failure

  • Kidney stones
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Lupus
  • Damage to nerves that control bladder
  • Enlarged prostate
  • Blood clots within urinary tract
  • Drug and alcohol abuse
  • Chemotherapy drugs
  • Infection
  • Overload of toxins from heave metals

Signs and symptoms of kidney failure

Decrease urine output and fluid retention which leads to swelling in limbs are a few of the early signs of kidney failure. Also, shortness of breath is considered to be a symptom of kidney failure.

  • Reduced amount of urine
  • Consistent nausea
  • Drowsiness
  • Fatigue
  • Swelling in legs, ankle and feet (this is a result of fluid retention caused by kidneys being unable to eliminate liquid waste)

Kidney failure: What you need to know about treatment

Kidney failure treatment will depend on the cause of it. Dialysis and kidney transplant are the two treatment available for kidney failure.

As part of dialysis, your blood is filtered and purified. Machines perform the function of kidneys in this case. This treatment does not cure kidney failure but can extend your life if you go for regular treatment.

In case of kidney transplant, you don’t need a dialysis. A donor usually has to wait for long before s/he gets a donor kidney that is compatible with the body. It is important to note that a transplant surgery may not be the right treatment option for everyone.

Kidney failure diet

If you have been diagnosed with kidney failure or are undergoing treatment for it, there are certain diet specifications that you need to follow. You need to reduce your sodium and potassium intake and limit it to nothing more than 2 gms in a day. Your phosphorus intake must also not be more than 1 gm per day. During the early stages of kidney disease, you need to cut down on protein consumption as well. Do follow your doctor’s recommendations for diet in case of kidney failure.

10 Habits That Can Harm Your Kidneys

World Kidney Day 2020

Living a poor quality of life or being unable to manage conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure can be harmful for your kidneys in the long run. The more bad habits you have, the worse the damage to the kidneys. Although the damage doesn’t happen overnight but you need to change your habits today to keep your kidneys healthy. On the occasion of World Kidney day 2020, which is celebrated all over to spread awareness about kidney disease and its impact, we discuss some undesirable habits which can harm your kidneys in the long run.

1. Not drinking enough water

It is extremely important to drink adequate amounts of water to regulate the flow of fluids in the kidneys. Maintaining proper levels of hydration in the body makes kidneys flush out toxins. Drinking enough water has been listed as an essential requirement for optimum kidney health by the US-based National Kidney Foundation.

2. Being deficient in vitamins

Research has reported that being deficient in Vitamin B6 and Vitamin D can increase the risk of kidney damage and kidney stones. According to Delhi-based nephrologist Dr Vikay Kher, kidneys play an important role as far as Vitamin D is concerned. “Vitamin D is activated by the kidney. It is an inactive vitamin which is synthesised in the liver. It affects bone health and that’s why patients with kidney diseases have bone diseases,” he says.

3. Trying to hold it in when you want to pee

If you don’t pee when it is nature’s call, the body tends to hold the toxins it was supposed to flush. If you do this too often, it can lead to kidney stones.

4. Consuming too much salt

Too much sodium in your diet, be it in the form of salt in your cooking or through other hidden sources, can be a cause of worry, especially if you are prone to tendencies of high blood pressure. There are numerous snacks, canned, packaged and junk food, which contain sodium in concentrated quantities. Try and opt for fresh sources of food like fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts or other homemade snacks to keep your sodium intake under control.

5. Having sweets in excess

“Consuming sweets in excess amounts can lead to diabetes. Type-2 diabetes is the most common kind of diabetes in India. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney diseases in the country.”

6. Not exercising regularly

Apart from maintaining body’s fitness and health quotient, exercising is important to manage conditions like blood pressure as well. Exercising makes the body function in a proper and healthy manner.

7. Untimely consumption of medicines

Many people are very particular when it comes to consumption of medicines. However, they go wrong when they don’t monitor their consumption of medicines in terms of their dosage and fixed duration.

“It depends on the kind of drugs and the concentration of drugs that you are having. Kidney is the organ which passes the drugs out of the body. 90% of the drugs have to be excreted through kidneys. People with less efficient kidneys should be more careful about medicine intake as they can have a tremendous impact on the kidneys.”

8. Not monitoring your blood pressure regularly

It is important to constantly keep monitoring your blood pressure since hypertension or high blood pressure can possibly harm your kidneys.

9. Binge drinking and smoking

Kidneys perform the function of filtering harmful substances from the body, including alcohol. So, consuming too much alcohol can add pressure to your kidneys. Alcohol can also damage the body’s renal system as well. Alcohol causes dehydration in the body, affecting the performance of other organs as well. Many liver diseases are caused because of excessive alcohol intake. This is in turn interrupts the blood flow to the kidneys. Latest research now shows how smoking too can now directly lead to kidney disease.

10. Consuming an excess of proteins

Consuming an excess of protein-rich food, especially red meat can damage your kidneys. Toxins like nitrogen and ammonia are released by kidneys through a protein source. Consuming protein in excessive quantities makes kidneys to perform hyperfiltration and kidney damage.

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Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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