Keep these four numbers in check for healthy kidneys

Sitaraman Shankar, CEO, The Printers Mysore (Pvt) Ltd, and Editor, Deccan Herald, and Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, nephrologist and Chairman, Manipal Hospitals, during a seminar on World Kidney Day in Bengaluru on March 10, 2021. DH PHOTO/RANJU P

Serum creatinine, sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol are the four aspects to keep in check to ensure healthy kidneys, said nephrologist and chairperson of Manipal Hospitals, Dr Sudarshan Ballal.

He was speaking while presiding over a special awareness seminar organised by Manipal Hospitals and curated by Deccan Herald Brandspot to mark World Kidney Day on Wednesday.

The seminar was organised with the objective of discussing effective symptom management among youngsters for the prevention of kidney-related diseases and early diagnosis.

"Kidneys do not just get rid of your waste products but they are also important to maintain your internal homeostasis. They maintain your blood pressure, prevent anaemia and produce hormones that cause haemoglobin to be produced. They also release hormones that make your bones sturdy,” Dr Ballal explained.

Any kidney ailment, according to the doctors, can easily be picked up by simple urine analysis and a blood test called creatinine or what is normally referred to as a ‘kidney number’. He appealed to all those who are above the age of 40 or those with risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension or family history to consult their doctors and ask whether they have checked their kidney numbers.

"Four numbers in your life will save you, which you need to control all through the life — serum creatinine (which accurately reflects your kidney function), sugar (preventing diabetes is of prime importance), blood pressure (30% of the adult population suffers from it) and cholesterol. Diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease are silent killers," Dr Ballal revealed. This apart, smoking, sugar, sadness, salt and stress are also potential risk factors for kidney ailments.

Sitaraman Shankar, CEO, The Printers Mysore (Pvt) Ltd, and Editor, Deccan Herald, who was the chief guest at the seminar, said: "I had read about the kidneys long back in a magazine and always marvelled at the engineering elegance of the kidney. I'm sure nephrologists will call it a beauty. It’s truly remarkable how much talent can be squeezed into the kidney— the size of a fist."

He added: "The past year has been like no other. We all know the role that Manipal Hospitals and other medical organisations have played on the Covid frontline. We owe them a debt of gratitude."

Dr Vishwanth S, Head of Department and Consultant, Nephrology-Transplant physician, and Dr Sankaran Sundar, Consultant, Nephrology and Head of International Transplant Service, were among the dozen nephrologists and urologists, who discussed effective symptom management among youngsters for the prevention of kidney-related diseases, causes, early diagnosis, dialysis and patient empowerment.

The event featured two parallel panel discussions.

While the first panel was about how kidney diseases can occur at any age and the journey of the caretakers with participation by Dr Vishwanth, Dr Sankaran Sundar, Dr Deepak Dubey, Dr Sanjay Rampure and Dr Nagasubramanyam, the second panel on being independent in spite of the disease was attended by Dr Topoti Mukherjee, Dr Gokulakrishnan, Dr GK Prakash and Dr Anand M.

The seminar also featured patients who have been on dialysis for a long time now. They participated in the seminar online and narrated their experiences.