Preventive steps for kidney health urged

Medical experts suggest tests of every person twice a year

LAHORE:

Experts have warned that blood pressure and diabetes are major causes of kidney failure, so it is necessary to take preventive measures.

Addressing a seminar organized at the Lahore General Hospital, Urology Prof Dr Khizar Hayat Gondal said adulteration in food, nonavailability of clean water, use of chemicals, antibiotic medicines, pesticides and alcohol consumption were the main causes of kidney failure.

Medical experts highlighted that more than 85 million people around the globe were suffering from various kidney problems while one out of every 10 people had chronic kidney disease. According to the WHO, it will be the 5th leading cause of death worldwide by 2040.

The causes of the disease include diabetes, high BP, obesity and ailments related to the heart and blood vessels, they added. They said every person should get complete kidney tests twice a year. MS Dr Khalid bin Aslam said separate urology wards had been allocated for women and men and they are being provided standard medical facilities.

Dr Yasir Hussain said dialysis was done in the hospital free of charge and machines were reserved for hepatitis patients so that other people were not infected. Prof Al-Fareed Zafar said women had a higher rate of use of painkillers, which affected kidney function.