VNM: Today is a World Kidney Day and we have in our studio Mr Anil Popat – Life member, Narmada Kidney Foundation, Mumbai. Mr. Popat does solo walk sponsored by Narmada Kidney Foundation every year on World Kidney Day, spreading Kidneys Health awareness among people of Vadodara. Welcome Mr. Popat.
ABP: Thank you.
VNM: Today is World Kidney Day. Tell our viewers objective of observing this day.
ABP: World Kidney Day is observed every year on every 2nd Thursday of March. Today is 9th World Kidney Day. Objective of observing World Kidney Day is to spread awareness about Kidneys Health and Kidney Diseases and educate people about what simple steps can be taken to keep our kidneys healthy. Every year World Kidney Day organization comes out with different themes.
VNM: OK. First of all tell our viewers what do kidneys do for us?
ABP: Kidneys do very important functions in our body. Kidneys
• Remove waste from our blood through urine
• Balance body fluids that is water
• Keep blood pressure under control
• Help making RBCs in bone marrow
• Keep our bones healthy
• Maintain acid-base balance
VNM: What is this year’s theme?
ABP: This year’s theme is Chronic Kidney Disease and Aging. The aging process affects all organs, including the kidneys.
There may be decline in kidney function with aging. But kidneys do not fail just because of aging, however associated diabetes, blood pressure, heart disease etc increase the risk for kidney failure.
VNM: So, how do we keep our kidneys healthy when we age?
ABP: In order the keep our kidneys healthy, we need to keep following precautions
• Keep weight under control with healthy food habits and regular exercise.
• Regular check on Blood Sugar as well as Blood Pressure for early detection
• Regular monitoring of Blood Sugar as well as Blood Pressure better control.
• Drink 10 to 12 glasses of water every day
• Avoid excessive use of pain-killer drugs and unknown medicines
• Get urine infection, Kidney Stones and Enlarged Prostate treated
• Avoid smoking and taking smokeless tobacco
• Avoid taking processed foods
VNM: How do we know that kidneys are not healthy?
ABP: Very often one does not have any symptoms. However one may have following symptoms.
• Feeling tired & Weak
• Headache, Nausea, Vomiting
• Swelling around eyes, ankle or hands
• Itching
• Foamy urine
• Change in frequency of urination
• Uncontrolled blood pressure
• Diabetics notice frequent drop in blood sugars
VNM: What else do we need to do to detect kidney disease early?
ABP: As I said very often there are no symptoms, one must get simple kidney function tests
(Urine routine and serum creatinine) done at least once a year.
VNM: What take home message you will give to viewers?
ABP: Kidney is an important organ of our body. Prevention and early detection is important to avoid expensive treatment options (Lifelong Dialysis and Transplant) later for kidney failure.
