Lifestyle changes can prevent kidney diseases, experts say

An event to celebrate World Kidney Day was held on Saturday at Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital in Prayagraj. Experts at the event highlighted the rising number of kidney-related diseases over the past 8-10 years. They noted that diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity are major contributors to these conditions. These three issues account for 80% of kidney ailments and are linked to lifestyle choices. However, many people are not aware of how lifestyle affects kidney health. To raise awareness, World Kidney Day is observed every March 13. This year's theme was “Are your kidneys healthy?” Dr. Santosh Singh, the media in charge at SRNH, pointed out that out of India's 1.46 billion people, 100 million have diabetes and 400 million have high blood pressure. He mentioned that about half of those with diabetes also suffer from kidney problems. Experts warned that early signs of kidney damage often go unnoticed. By the time symptoms appear, kidneys may be about 80% damaged. They advised people with risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, or frequent urination to get their kidney health checked.