Written By: Ankita Chakrabarty | Updated : March 23, 2015 11:44 AM IST
Top doctors in the capital have found that the youth in the country are increasingly becoming vulnerable to kidney failure given their liking for a sedentary lifestyle and addiction to smoking and liquor. As a result of the fast paced city life and unhealthy eating habits, a greater number of younger people are being diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension which in turn leads to irreversible kidney failure, in most cases.
Unofficial medical fraternity estimates say that 60 per cent of patients suffering from diabetes and hypertension have been hit by kidney ailment. While India is said to reap the demographic dividend, doctors lament the rising incidence of kidney disease hitting Y-gen in the country. Dr. P.N Gupta, consultant, nephrology at Paras Hospital, Gurgaon, warns, 'young people are more prone to kidney diseases because of an unhealthy diet, smoking, drinking and unnecessarily popping pills.'
India is estimated to add about 1.5 lakh new knidney patients every year. Dr. Q Hasnain, consultant, nephrology, at Moolchand Renalcare & Dialysis, Delhi, says, 'for the diabetes capital of the world, it is alarming that sixty percent of the patients suffering from chronic kidney diseases are either diabetic or suffer from high blood pressure. One of the most serious consequences of diabetes mellitus (DM) is renal or kidney disease, also known as diabetic nephropathy. If diabetes is not well controlled, it can cause kidney damage and finally nephropathy.'
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.
The early onset of kidney disorders is taking its toll on the mental well being of youth in India. Reiterating the view, Dr. Ripan Sippy, clinical psychologist, Delhi, says, 'most young people suffering from diabetes and other lifestyle disorders deal with weight issues which makes them feel insecure among their peer groups. When you are overweight, it affects the confidence level which ultimately gives rise to many psychological disorders.' According to National Kidney Foundation of India, kidney diseases rank third amongst life-threatening diseases (after cancer & cardiac ailments) in India.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means that the kidneys have been damaged to such an extent that they tend to start malfunctioning. They can get damaged either from a physical injury or a diseases like diabetes or high blood pressure. Once the kidneys are damaged, they cannot filter the blood nor do other jobs expected of them. Over five lakh patients in India require kidney transplants according to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). However, doctors say in reality only 300-400 transplants are done annually.
Kidney treatment involves huge costs and there is need to lower them. Dr. Gupta at Paras Hospital says, 'kidney transplant is a costly affair. India has very limited dialysis centres. In a private set up, the cost of a kidney transplant ranges between five six lakhs. A dialysis patient spends approximately Rupees 30, 000 per month. It's high time that the government open more dialysis centres for people who can't afford it.'
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease.
Suggesting measures which should be adopted to overcome kidney ailments, Dr. Hasnain at Moolchand says, 'control your blood sugar by following a good diet for diabetes. Get regular exercise and increase your fluid intake, especially water.'
Government of India launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010 in 100 districts of 21 states with a focus on awareness generation for behavior and lifestyle changes, early diagnosis of persons with high levels of risk factors and their referral to higher facilities for appropriate management.
Under this programme, opportunistic screening for diabetes and hypertension has been taken up for people who are above 30 years of age. As on March 14, 2013, nearly 1.70 crore persons have been screened for Diabetes and Hypertension out of which 12.22 lakh (7.18 percent) and 11.13 lakh (6.57 percent) persons have been found to be prone to Diabetes and Hypertension respectively.
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.
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