8 Tips to care the Kidneys

Kidney diseases are silent killers, which can largely affect the quality of life. Here are 8 tips to reduce the risk of developing kidney disease.

1. Keep yourself fit & be active: It helps to maintain ideal body weight, reduce blood pressure, and hence the risk of Chronic Kidney Disease.

2. Eat a healthy diet & Reduce your salt intake: The recommended sodium intake is 5-6 grams of salt per day. This includes the salt already in your foods. (around a teaspoon). Try and limit the amount of processed and restaurant food and do not add salt to food. 

3. Check and control your blood sugar:  Especially in middle-aged or older people. About half of people who have diabetes develop kidney damage, but this can be prevented/ limited if the diabetes is well controlled. 

4. Check and control your blood pressure: High blood pressure can damage your kidneys. This is especially likely when associated with other factors like diabetes, high cholesterol, and Cardio-Vascular Diseases.

5. Take the appropriate fluid intake: Normally this means 8 cups, approximately 2 liters (quarts) per day for a healthy person in a comfortable climate condition. But this needs to be adjusted in severe climate conditions,  exercise, pregnancy and breastfeeding  & health conditions like kidney or heart, or liver disease. 

6. Don’t smoke: Smoking slows the flow of blood to the kidneys. When less blood reaches the kidneys, it can decrease their ability to function normally. Smoking also increases the risk of kidney cancer by about 50 percent.

7. Don’t take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory/pain-killer pills regularly: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS)/ pain-killer (e.g. drugs like ibuprofen) can harm the kidneys if taken regularly.

8. Get your kidney function checked if you have one or more of the ‘high risk’ factors: If you

•  Have diabetes
•  Have hypertension
•  Are obese
•  Have a family history of kidney disease

References:

1. https://www.worldkidneyday.org/facts/take-care-of-your-kidneys/8-golden-rules/
2. https://www.healthifyme.com/blog/climbing-stairs-for-weight-loss/ photo credit
3. http://www.projecthappilyeverafter.com/2010/08/housework-who-really-does-more/ photo credit
4. https://therapeutic-sessions.com/5-simple-ways-to-keep-yourself-active/ photo credit
5. https://community.today.com/parentingteam/post/keep-it-fresh-how-to-add-variety-to-your-workout photo credit
6. https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/publications-and-technical-guidance/noncommunicable-diseases/stay-physically-active-during-self-quarantine photo credit
7. https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/calcium-oxalate-stone photo credit
8. https://www.lalpathlabs.com/blog/foods-drinks-maintain-kidneys-health/ photo credit
9. https://twitter.com/who/status/907682947616055296 photo credit
10. https://www.yourhealthhub.com.au/health-and-wellness/are-you-having-too-much-salt/ photo credit
11. https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-and-renal-failure-everything-you-need-to-know/ photo credit
12. https://www.livescience.com/62673-what-is-blood-sugar.html photo credit
13. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/my-life-check--lifes-simple-7/ls7-blood-sugar-infographic photo credit
14. https://www.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae/en/health-byte/pages/4-ways-to-help-prevent-kidney-stones.aspx photo credit
15. https://www.quora.com/Why-are-patients-with-chronic-kidney-disease-instructed-to-increase-their-water-intake photo credit
16. https://topnews.in/kidney-damage-due-high-blood-pressure-may-be-helped-pine-bark-extract-2255726 photo credit
17. http://www.kidneyurology.org/Library/Kidney_Health/High_Blood_Pressure_and_Kidney_Disease.php photo credit
18. https://slideplayer.com/slide/1703470/ photo credit
19. https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/health/health-conditions/7-ways-to-keep-your-kidneys-healthy photo credit
20. https://www.healthline.com/health/pain-relief/otc-anti-inflammatories photo credit
21. https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/patient/treatments/medications/medications-chronic-pain photo credit

No Smoking day 2021: Say NO to Smoking & YES to Life!

What is the need?

Smoking or chewing tobacco is one of the worst habits which can be adopted. It is one of the biggest preventable causes of premature death.

The health risks are known to all but still thousands of youth, between 12 to 17 years of age, who start smoking each day. 

Some start it out of curiosity and others might just want to look like grownups.

The effect of smoking starts with coughing and throat irritation accompanied by bad breath and bad-smelling clothes. It also leads to patchy skin and discoloration of teeth.

Over time, more serious conditions may develop, including health problems like heart disease, bronchitis, pneumonia, stroke, and many types of cancer, out of which, oral cancer is quite common.

When is it celebrated?

No Smoking Day is observed every year on the second Wednesday of March, to encourage people over the world to quit smoking. 

No Smoking Day, 2021 is being celebrated on March 10, but you can quit smoking on any day of the year. 

The main purpose of this day is to spread awareness about the harmful health effects of tobacco consumption through cigarettes and other modes. 

The important message is to help smokers to get rid of the bad habit of smoking.

How can we stop?

No matter what your age is or how long you've been smoking, your health benefits will begin as soon as you quit.

In order to quit smoking, firstly you need to be firm that you want to quit smoking. 

Once decided, do not be lured by others. 

It is very hard to quit smoking; after all, nicotine in cigarettes is a powerfully addictive drug. But with the right approach, you can do it. 

You'll need a lot of patience and, yes, willpower to quit this habit. It won’t go in a day and it will gradually improve. 

What is Craving?

This is the urge to consume tobacco that comes and goes. There are people, places, things, and situations that may trigger the urge to consume tobacco. These urges are called Cravings. Craving for tobacco is normal and can sometimes be challenging to handle.

What are Tobacco Use Triggers?

Triggers are situations or things that increase the urge or craving to use tobacco. Everyone who consumes tobacco has tobacco use triggers. Knowing your triggers helps to stay in control. 

At first, you might want to avoid triggers altogether. 

After staying quit for a while, you may be able to find other ways to handle your triggers. 

Here are some common tobacco use triggers:

• Feeling stressed

• Feeling sad

• Talking on the phone

• Drinking alcohol

• Watching TV

• Driving

• Finishing a meal

• Taking a work break

• Seeing someone else smoke or using tobacco

• To cool down after a fight or argument

• Feeling lonely

• Drinking coffee

• A need to relax

How to Manage Craving?

All tobacco use triggers can not be avoided, so it is important to make a plan for how to handle cravings. 

Remember, cravings typically last for a few minutes. 

It might be uncomfortable, but try to wait it out. 

Make a list of things you can do to distract yourself, like:

• Call someone. You don't have to do this alone, lean on the people you trust to distract you.

• Wait 15 minutes. Challenge yourself to read a magazine, listen to music, chant or play your favorite game for 15 minutes. Cravings only last a few minutes!

• Take a walk or jog. If you do not have the time, try some deep breathing. Physical activity, even in short bursts, can help to make you feel energetic and get over a craving.

• Review your reason for quitting. Just having tobacco even once will only increase your craving and make it stronger. Get over the craving by reminding yourself why you want to be tobacco-free.

• Go to a tobacco-free zone. Most public places don't allow smoking. Go to a movie, a park, or any other tobacco-free public place where you're forced not to use tobacco.

• Calculate your savings. Tobacco products are expensive. Add up all the money you're saving and decide what you're going to buy with it.

• Keep your mouth busy.Keep saunf, laung or elaichiin your mouth. Buy chewing gum instead of a tobacco product, or keep hard candy with you. Drinking water also works!

• Do something else. When a craving hits, stop what you're doing immediately and do something else. Simply changing your routine can help you shake off a craving.

• Take deep breaths. Breathe through your craving by inhaling (through your nose) and exhaling (through your mouth). Repeat this 10 times or until you're feeling more relaxed. Yoga or pranayam can help you get over the craving.

Cravings will come and go. A craving lasts only a few days/weeks. Remember, trying something to fight the urge to consume tobacco is always better than not trying anything. Do what works best for you when a craving hits. 

Just don't use tobacco. Not even once!

 References:

1. https://www.nhp.gov.in/no-smoking-day_pg
2. https://www.nhp.gov.in/how-to-manage-craving_mtl
3. https://www.nhp.gov.in/10-easy-ways-to-get-support-to-quit_mtl
4. https://www.nhp.gov.in/media/quit-tobacco
5. https://twitter.com/cdctobaccofree/status/983313576399200257?lang=ca photo credit
6. https://share.upmc.com/2016/04/how-smoking-affects-lungs/ photo credit

World Glaucoma Week 2021: The world is bright, save your sight!

What is the need?

It is estimated that around 80 million people have glaucoma worldwide. 

• Approximately 50% of the individuals with glaucoma are unaware that they have the disease, and this number may be even higher in underdeveloped countries.
• Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world accounting for up to 8% of total blindness ( 4.5 million people). 
• In India, glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness with at least 12 million people affected and nearly 1.2 million people blind from the disease. 
• More than 90 percent of cases of glaucoma remain undiagnosed in the community. 
• Glaucoma prevalence also increases with age.  
• It is reported that while anyone has about 2.3% lifetime risk of glaucoma, first-degree relatives (FDRs) of glaucoma patients have a ten-fold increase in the risk of glaucoma.

So, making people aware of the need, for glaucoma investigations including examination of the optic nerve may save blindness in a large number of people.

When is it celebrated?

World Glaucoma Week will be celebrated from 7 to 13 March, 2021 as a global joint initiative between the World Glaucoma Association (WGA) and the World Glaucoma Patient Committee (WGPC) to raise awareness on glaucoma.

• The goal of this week is to alert everyone to have regular eye (and optic nerve) check-ups to detect glaucoma as early as possible.
• The overarching goal of this campaign is for everyone to know about the disease called ‘glaucoma’ and encourage the general public to go and get tested.
• The theme for WGW 2021 IS 'The World is Bright, Save your Sight!' reflects the hope that with regular testing, people continue to see the world around us: full of beauty, charm, and adventure. 

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive, degenerative disorder of the optic nerve that produces characteristic visual field damage. Glaucoma is the second cause of blindness, and importantly: it is irreversible.

• This is because, in its early stages, glaucoma is asymptomatic. If untreated, glaucoma may progress to blindness.
• Though raised pressure of the eye (pressure maintained by fluid in the eye) is an important risk factor, a few individuals can develop glaucoma even with the normal pressure of the eye.

Periodic testing allows the early diagnosis to prevent visual disability.

Risk Factors:

• Having high internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure).
• Age above 60.
• Family History. 
• Having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and sickle cell anaemia.
• Having certain eye conditions, such as myopia.
• Had certain types of eye surgery.
• Taking corticosteroid medications, especially eyedrops, for a long time.

Preventive measures:

Regular eye care: 

• Regular comprehensive eye examinations are recommended once every 2/3 years after the age of 40 and every year after the age of 60. 
• Individuals with risk factors for glaucoma may need more frequent screening examinations.

Treatment:

• Once diagnosed with Glaucoma, treatment is required lifelong and anti-glaucoma eye drops have to be instilled regularly as prescribed even if the patient has no symptoms.

Control of systemic diseases:

• Hypertension and diabetes need to be well controlled as inadequate control of these conditions is a risk factor for the progression of glaucoma. 

Develop a healthy lifestyle:

• A healthy diet and healthy lifestyle can help to prevent and control systemic illnesses, thereby decrease the risk of glaucoma progression. 
• Taking a diet rich in salads / green vegetables, aerobic exercise, deep breathing, and relaxation, stopping cigarette smoking, meditation, etc. can help to reduce the stress associated with the disease and also may reduce IOP.
• Any Yoga asana with head down posture (shirshasana) should not be performed as it can increase the IOP.

Protective eyewear:

• Both blunt and penetrating trauma to the eye are known risk factors for glaucoma. 
• Individuals at risk of injury to the eye like those using power tools and those playing high-speed sports must use protective eyewear to prevent injury to the eye.

Check use of steroids:

• Eye drops containing steroids should be avoided or used for a short period with regular IOP checks to prevent the development of glaucoma.
• With regular treatment and follow-up, most patients can preserve a good quality of vision throughout their lifetime.

References:

1. https://www.worldglaucomaweek.org/
2. https://wga.one/wga/world-glaucoma-week/#:~:text=March%207%2D13%2C%202021,to%20raise%20awareness%20on%20glaucoma.
3. https://www.nhp.gov.in/world-glaucoma-week_pg#:~:text=World%20Glaucoma%20Week%20will%20be,up%2C%20including%20optic%20nerve%20examination.
4. https://www.eyedoctors.ie/campaigns/glaucomaweek/
5. https://www.glaucoma.org/news/world-glaucoma-week.php
6. https://www.nhp.gov.in/glaucoma-week-2020_pg

MBI KIT

Multibus Interface Kit (MBI Kit):

• It is a very essential and useful monitoring tool.
• It is also a very powerful tool for the advocacy of the Universel Salt iodisation (a mission to combat the lack of iodine in the daily diets of millions across the world). 
• Monitoring the iodine content at various points is the key to the success of this mission. 

Purpose:

The Field Test Kits allow Iodised salt manufacturers, quality controllers, health inspectors, social workers, NGO activists and even school children to assess the amount of iodine in iodised salt.

Field testing has become easier now how?

• The MBI KITs are coming in a handy pack that allows the user to carry them around during field visits. 
• These are inexpensive, completely user friendly and offer a simple method of monitoring iodine in salt at field level.

What does the kit contain?

The Field Test Kit consists of:

• 2-3 ampoules of 10ml each containing test solution.
• In some cases, 1 red ampoule containing a recheck solution.
• A detailed instruction sheet in the local language.
• A colour chart with circular colour spots.
• One small container.

all fitting into a handy pocket-size kit

How to use the kit?

• A few spoons of the salt for testing is filled a small cup and spread flat.
• The test solution ampoule is opened by piercing it with a pin and the test solution is dropped on the salt surface till the surface is flooded.
• The reaction liberates the iodine in the salt, and depending on the content of iodine, the solution changes the colour of the salt.
• The intensity of the colour varies with the amount of iodine and by matching it with the colour chart the range of iodine can be ascertained.
• In the absence of the colour formation, a few drops of the recheck solution is to be spread on the salt surface before using the test solution.

PPM level of iodine in salt:

Different ppm levels of iodine in salt are used in different regions. From 50 ppm iodine for Asian countries to 100 ppm iodine in African countries. Customised test kits are used to cover the diverse range.

Iodising agent-Iodate/Iodide

• Different types of test kits are used to cater to the different needs of countries. 
• Like using Potassium Iodide as an iodising agent in South American countries to using Potassium Iodate as an agent in Asian countries. 

PH level of salt:

Recheck solution that has been developed for the kit help in giving accurate results, irrespective of alkalinity levels in the salt that may be caused due to the addition of free-flow agents like light basic magnesium carbonate or even due to natural causes.

Language:

As these kits are used at all levels and cater to diverse linguistic regions, instructional manuals are povided in over 25 different languages that include: English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Burmese, Vietnamese, Thai and 10 regional languages in India.

Evaluation:

These test kits have been evaluated by the multi-centric study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. 

The kits were distributed to eight different centres in India and over 6300 salt samples were tested on a blind basis.

The comparison between the results of the Iodometric Titration and the test kits were made, and there was an excellent agreement between the two.

The Sensitivity averaged at 89.8%.

The Specificity averaged at 65.6%.

The Positive Predictive Value averaged at 80.9%.

The Negative Predictive value averaged at 79.7%.

These points prove that the salt testing kits offer a good semi-quantitative estimation of iodine in salt.

References:

1. http://www.mbikits.com/the-mbi-kit/
2. https://supply.unicef.org/s0008193.html 

Types of Data