Every year World Kidney Day is observed on the second Thursday of March, to raise awareness about the importance of Kidney & its associated disorders. The slogan for this year's campaign is 'Protect Your Kidneys and Save Your Heart'.
What is the function of kidneys ?
The main job of our kidneys is to remove toxins and excess water from our blood. Kidneys also help to control our blood pressure, to produce red blood cells, to keep our bones healthy & to maintain blood acidity.
Who are the main culprits causing damage to the kidneys ?
The common disorders causing damage to kidneys are,
-Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
-Diabetes
-High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Statistics
There are currently over 240 million people with diabetes worldwide, out of which 40% of people will develop Chronic Kidney Disease.
More worse is the no. of persons suffering from High Blood Pressure, which stands at around 1 billion people globally, a major risk factor for Chronic Kidney Disease.
In Pakistan, it is said that around five million patients suffer from kidney-related diseases and around 0.2 million people contract the disease every year.
How to care for Kidneys ?
-If you suffer from Diabetes or Hypertension, controlling the blood sugar & blood pressure levels respectively, is the main thing to prevent kidneys getting into the trouble.
-Urinary Tract Infection, often presents with burning micturation & the immediate home therapy for it is drinking plenty amounts of water.
-Balanced diet & daily physical activity for about 30 mins promote overall health of the body.
More details and information can be found at World Kidney Day's website.
