The incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is on the rise and ranks among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The presence of uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension is the number 1 risk factor for CKD. While the disease affects all age groups and increasingly in older ages, the worrying trend of rising numbers in young adults warrants special attention, writes Dr. Tanmay Pandya, HOD & Director – Nephrology, Sarvodaya Hospital Sector-8, Faridabad.
CKD in Young Adults: Why Is It Rising?
As per Dr. Tanmay Pandya, the leading causes of CKD in young adults continue to be diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure). In India, the incidence of both these non-communicable diseases (NCD) is on the rise. According to several reports, India is home to the highest number of diabetics in the world. Moreover, more than half of these diabetics are unaware of their status. Similarly, hypertension too is a silent malady.
Other causes of CKD include kidney stones, primary kidney inflammatory disorders called glomerulonephritis, hereditary disorders like cystic kidney diseases, obesity, tobacco use, and undetermined or unknown causes. There's also a significant role of “health” or gym supplements in contributing to CKD in young adults, he adds.
Steps To Avoid Getting CKD At Young Age
According to Dr. Pandya, the best preventive strategy is proactive screening, but who should get it done? For one, high risk individuals with diabetes and hypertension should get specific screening for CKD. This is easily achieved by cost-effective tests like creatinine from a blood sample and urine microalbumin creatinine ratio from a spot or first-morning urine sample.
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Another no-cost step is monitoring blood pressure at regular intervals to identify abnormal values. Current hypertension guidelines define BP values more than 135/85 mm Hg as abnormal. Persons with such readings should consult a doctor immediately.
Even though screening is highly effective, not everyone can be motivated to go through regular tests. So, it's of paramount importance to pay attention to one's body. CKD is nearly completely silent in the early stages. Subtle signs, apart from a high BP, include swelling of legs or around eyes, frothy urine, very dark or abnormally coloured urine, undue fatigue, lack of appetite, and shortness of breath which was previously not noticed. Young adults tend to ignore these signs, and brush them off as a result of work/stress etc. That can be a costly mistake.
"The path to remain healthy and keep kidneys safe goes along a healthy lifestyle. Engage in regular workouts, drink adequate water (at least 2 litres a day), quit smoking and tobacco use, avoid alcohol, maintain a healthy weight with BMI under 27, eat a balanced diet avoiding excesses, moderate your salt intake, and keep away from pain killers for prolonged periods. In addition, I would caution against unregulated supplements," wraps up Dr. Tanmay Pandya.
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