World kidney day: Follow these golden rules to keep your kidneys healthy

Kidney disorders are silent killers, which affects nearly 850 million people around the world. Almost 5 to 10 million kidney patients in today’s date either require dialysis or kidney transplantation to live longer. It is very clear from the figures that the shooting cases of kidney diseases can soon become one of the leading causes of mortality in the world within a few decades. To spread awareness about this rising issue, The International Society of Nephrology and International Federation of Kidney foundation recoginse the World Kidney Day on every third Thursday of March. On this occasion, we have laid down some golden rules to spread awareness about ways to reduce the risk of developing kidney diseases.

The first lifestyle change includes drinking plenty of water daily. Water helps to flush out toxins from your body and ensures proper functioning of the kidneys in the process. It is advised that an adult should consume 2 to 3 liters of fluid in a day without fail.

Whether you’re inclined towards catching a kidney disorder or not, one must always check their blood sugar levels and keep them under control. Conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes are two commonest signs that can damage kidney health. Ideal blood pressure should be below 140/90 mm Hg while your fasting blood sugar levels should be below 99mg/dL.

It is also wise to avoid alcohol and smoking to reduce the chances of declining kidney health. Both of these can affect the filtering properties of the kidneys while causing high blood pressure and low blood circulation to the kidneys. Similarly, common painkillers, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and other drugs like aspirin can harm the kidneys in time. It is best to always check with a doctor before consuming any drug and avoid self medication.

Exercising daily clubbed with a healthy diet form one of the basic rules for curbing any health issues and it is no different for every kidney-related disease. Also, people suffering from diabetes, hypertension, obesity or even with a family history of kidney diseases should always keep checking with their doctor for further signs and medication.
Photo credit: Google