complete examination before opting for fasting in Ramazan, said Dr. Khawaja.
With the damage to kidneys, waste products and excess fluid starts building up in the body causing swelling in ankles, vomiting, weakness, poor sleep and shortness of breath and these symptoms should be taken seriously while under fast, he said.
He added that if these symptoms are left untreated, the diseased kidneys may stop functioning completely that is potentially a serious and life-threatening condition.
It is important that healthy kidneys maintain a balance of water and concentration of minerals such as sodium, potassium and phosphorus in the blood and remove waste by-products from the blood after digestion.
Kidneys produce rennin, an enzyme that helps regulating blood pressure. They also produce an active form of Vitamin D, needed for the health of bones while stimulate red blood cell production. According to Dr. Khawaja, the patients suffering from urinary tract infections, milder kidney stones and cyst can fast during Ramazan but after advice from their physicians. "If the kidney stones are silent and are not causing pain, the person can fast but if there is pain due to stone, the patient should seek treatment instead of opting for fasting without medical advice."
Similarly, patients of acute kidney injury should not fast because during fasting dehydration can take place which can further damage the kidneys, he said. He added also the patient with chronic kidney disease having high blood pressure and blood sugar should not fast.
He said the emergency department at PIMS has been receiving significant number of patients with urinary tract infections and kidney stones and with abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and dehydration. On average, the PIMS is receiving 50 to 60 patients with dehydration. The PIMS has been receiving a good number of patients with kidney pain due to excessive use of soft drinks who were not suffering from kidney diseases, said Dr. Khawaja.