KIDNEY HEALTH FOR ALL 2022 ITS TIME TO TAKE ACTION

World Kidney day is a global campaign that aims to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems. The incidence and prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing progressively worldwide. Hence chronic kidney disease is a global health problem with serious adverse effects, including kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. 1 out of 10 adult people worldwide have it, and if left untreated it can be deadly. Kidney disease related mortality continues to increase yearly and is projected to be the 5th leading cause of death by 2040. While early detection allows for better disease management to help prevent morbidity and mortality and also improve cost effectiveness A persistent and ongoing CKD knowledge gap exists, one that is demonstrable at all levels of healthcare. This knowledge gap is stifling the fight against kidney disease, and increasing the inherent associated mortality says

Dr. Jyothsna Guttikonda MD, Board Certified Nephrology (USA) Consultant Nephrologist

MYTHS & FACTS

Kidney disease is Hereditary - Very few kidney diseases are hereditary like polycystic.

Single or double kidney failure - All medical diseases affect both the kidneys. The word kidney failure refers to both the kidneys not functioning. The kidney function is normal even if a single kidney is not functioning totally.

Dialysis once started has to be permanent - This depends on whether the patient has acute or chronic kidney failure. Acute failure might require only temporary dialysis.

It is not safe to donate a kidney - If the general health of the donor is normal without diabetes or blood pressure; it is safe to donate a kidney. Donors have led a normal life including marriage and childbirth, etc.

Water should be consumed in large quantities by patients with kidney disease - Often restriction in water consumption is required since maintenance of water balance in the body is one of the functions of the kidneys.

Spinach and tomato is not good for the kidneys - They are restricted in certain types of kidney stones such as calcium oxalate stones but not in kidney dysfunction.

Salt substitutes can be used in kidney patients - salt substitutes being potassium chlorides are more dangerous in patients with kidney failure as potassium excretion is already affected.

Most kidney stones are formed from calcium, so calcium in the diet should be reduced - That used to be what doctors thought, but no longer. Several studies have shown that low-calcium diets are not effective, and may actually be harmful, since they tend to increase the likelihood of low-bone density and osteoporosis. Calcium is important in the diet because it binds to oxalate in the stomach and decreases absorbtion of the oxalate.

Cannot have a good life if I need dialysis - you can live long and live well with dialysis. Some people with CKD put off dialysis as long as they can, because they are afraid. But people who start treatment before they are terribly ill and malnourished do much better. And people who are very sick before they start dialysis are often surprised to find that they feel much better a few weeks or months after starting dialysis.

If I’m in an accident and the hospital knows I want to be a donor, the doctors won’t try to save my life - No. Organ and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save your life have been exhausted and death has been declared.

Book Appointment: Dr. Jyothsna Guttikonda, MD, Board Certified Nephrology (USA) Consultant Nephrologist