‘Obesity remains a leading cause of kidney failure’

Dialysis or the clinical purification of blood with the help of machines, as a substitute for the normal functioning of the kidney, is the start of a long, painful process if one’s kidneys fail but the definite treatment is kidney transplant, which is a costly, painful and cumbersome process for the patients.

Kidneys of a person fail or get affected mostly due to diabetes, hypertension, cancer or stone formations. Diabetes and high blood pressure account for majority of kidney failure cases and these diseases are mostly caused due to obesity. If a person controls his or her weight, remains healthy by eating less and walking more, he can avoid these diseases and ultimately protects kidneys from permanent damage.

These views were expressed by experts while addressing seminars, conferences and medical camps, organised by various organisations and hospitals in connection with World Kidney Day 2017 in Karachi on Thursday.

World Kidney Day 2017 activities were held at the Urology and Nephrology Wards of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), the Liaquat National Hospital (LNH), the Arts Council of Pakistan, the Kidney Centre and many other public and private hospitals, which were addressed by senior urologists and nephrologists.

“This year, the theme of World Kidney Disease is ‘Kidney Disease and Obesity’. It is because obesity causes diabetes and hypertension, which are the leading causes of the kidney failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is the gradual loss of kidney function. So if we control obesity, there are high chances that our kidneys would remain safe and functional throughout our life,”said consultant urologist at the Department of Urology, JPMC, Dr Muhammad Mansoor.

The head of the Nephrology Ward, JPMC, Dr Mannad Junejo, in his address advised people to adopt healthy lifestyle, eat healthy food, walk more and drink plenty of water so that their kidneys could remain healthy and functional for the entire life.

 

Activities at SIUT

An overwhelming response was witnessed at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) on Thursday when hundreds of people thronged the urology institute to avail the free kidney testing and treatment facilities offered to mark World Kidney Day.

World Kidney Day is observed all over the world on second Thursday of March. The observance of the day started in 2006 and has not stopped ever since. Every year a campaign is highlighted with a particular theme.

 

Seminar at LNH

The Liaquat National Hospital (LNH) also organised a seminar to mark World Kidney Day 2017 where LNH Medical Director Dr Salman Faridi said the CKD was a lifestyle disease, which was evident from the theme of this year’s kidney day titled ‘Kidney Disease and Obesity’.