World Kidney Day: What you can do to prevent kidney disease, obesity

New Delhi: Having diagnosed with a kidney disease can be extremely stressful. When your kidneys are damaged, your organs stop functioning as they should. It is the kidneys that perform a vital function in keeping us alive and healthy.

The kidneys remove waste products and excess fluid from the from the body. They remove drugs from the body, release hormones that regulate blood pressure. The kidneys also produce an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones, and control the production of red blood cells.

Any type of kidney disease can reduce the efficiency of this filtration process. But when your kidneys don't work well for longer than 3 months, doctors call it chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can happen due to many reasons – often it's the result of a combination of different health conditions that impair kidneys' function. Some of these conditions are diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, glomerulonephritis (kidney inflammation), polycystic kidney disease, Urinary tract infections, etc.

There are many factors that can increase an individual's risk of chronic kidney disease. Obesity is a potent risk factor for the development of kidney disease. That's the reason kidney disease is more likely to develop in obese people including in those with diabetes and hypertension.

But obesity as well as CKD is largely preventable. Lifestyle choices can have a huge impact when it comes to kidney health as kidney disease often occurs as a result of other conditions scuh as diabetes, High blood pressure, that put a strain on the kidneys.

Making healthier lifestyle choices is important in preventing obesity and kidney conditions.

• Following a healthy diet that's low in salt, saturated fats and sugar
• Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables - aim for at least five portions a day
• Avoiding excessive alcohol intake
• Not smoking
• Exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight – being overweigth can contribute to the risk of kidney disease
• Managing underlying health conditions with doctor's help.

Today is World Kidney Day (WKD), a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of the kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. It is observed annually on the 2nd Thursday in March.