Early Screening Needed for Kidney Diseases: Experts

Early screening method is the best option to manage kidney disease in India, say doctors on World Kidney Day.

"Kidney disease often goes undetected because symptoms may not appear until the organs are actually failing. Those who have poor diabetic control, high blood pressure, smokers and have a family history of chronic kidney disease should do early detection by simple urine analysis and blood test," said Dinesh K. Dhanwal, a professor of medicine and an endocrinologist at Maulana Azad Medical College.

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The experts were sharing their views at a conference ahead of World Kidney Day Thursday.

According to doctors, nearly one percent of country's population is suffering from some kind of kidney disease and 1.5 lakh patients are adding to the number every year, needing dialysis or transplantation of kidney.

Screening and detection test is a simple, cost effective and proven tool that identifies and educates those with early kidney disease, and health professionals are able to provide corrective treatment before risk factors develop into chronic kidney disease.

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"The relentless progression to kidney failure can be slowed or reduced by in most cases. Adequate control of diabetes and aggressive control of blood pressure are the mainstay of treatment," said Harsha Jauhari, chairman, Department of Renal Transplantation, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Dhanwal said there were several myths about kidney disease.

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Kidney stones or calculus produces the most severe form of pain in humans. The pain has often been described to be worse than childbirth, broken bones, gunshot wounds, burns, or surgery. Once you form a kidney stone you are always susceptible to another stone. Take this quiz to find out how much do you know about stone disease. Once you complete find out how you fared compared to others who have taken the quiz.

"Many are under the impression that kidney disease is hereditary but it is not," he said.

The doctors said soft drinks and coffee can also increase blood pressure and chances of kidney disease.

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Cut back on salt, restrict your fluid intake and limit consumption of proteins if you suffer from kidney failure.

The National Kidney Foundation estimates that around 100 people in a million suffer from kidney ailments in India.

Source-IANS