Chronic kidney disease can be prevented by controlling other illnesses
LAHORE: As one of the vital organs of the human body, kidneys play an important role in filtering waste from the blood, balancing electrolyte, producing red blood cells and regulating blood pressure. In the last two decades, there has been a substantial increase in patients suffering from kidney diseases. About 20 million people in the country were diagnosed with kidney diseases in 2014 alone. There are numerous causes of kidney failure including poor water supply, diabetes, drug overdose, high blood pressure, urinary tract obstruction, genetics, hyperlipidemia and age.
People who normally consume water from rivers and lakes suffer from kidney diseases due to the presence of high mineral contents and heavy metal ions. Industries also dump their waste in water, contributing to the damage. The government should take serious measures to resolve this issue.
Patients of diabetes and hypertension are also prone to kidney diseases. In their later stages, degeneration of nephron begins owing to the nephrotoxic effect of glucose. Hypertension increases blood flow, forcing an exertion of blood upon the walls of the blood vessels, which results in bursting capillaries present in kidneys. Protein then starts passing through urine, multiplying the damage. Hepatitis patients are also vulnerable to the disease as malfunctioning of liver increases toxic material in the body that may result in a kidney failure. Overdose of drugs, such as, aminoglycoside, vancomycin and NAIDS can also cause kidney damage.
Kidney failure is diagnosed through a blood test called BUN that measures body’s creatinine and glomerular filtration rate. In case of complete kidney failure, the only option available is dialysis or a transplant.
Chronic kidney disease can be prevented by controlling other illnesses. The best way to prevent a kidney failure is to take the following steps to keep blood pressure below 130/90, and in case of diabetes maintain it at a target range. Maintain a healthy weight and control cholesterol level, which can prevent diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases. Avoid tobacco products, especially smoking as it can lead to atherosclerosis, which reduces blood flow to kidney and increases blood pressure.
Muhammad Talha Meraj
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2017.
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