Kidney disease no longer limited to the elderly, say experts

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing among young Indians, despite being traditionally a health concern for older individuals.
• Kidney problems affect approximately 10% to 15% of Indians, including teenagers.
• Early-stage kidney disease often shows no symptoms, making regular screening essential.
• High-risk groups include individuals with diabetes, hypertension, cardiac conditions, obesity, or a family history of kidney disease.
• Lifestyle modifications include maintaining ideal body weight, following a balanced diet, limiting salt intake, staying hydrated, ensuring six to eight hours of sleep, and managing blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
• Avula Naveen Reddy, consultant nephrologist at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU), echoes the rising concern over kidney health among Gen-Z.
• Symptoms such as excessive foaming in urine, fever with abdominal pain, a burning sensation while urinating, and traces of blood in urine should not be ignored.
• Despite the increasing prevalence of kidney-related issues among young Indians, awareness remains alarmingly low.
• D. Sree Bhushan Raju, professor and head of the department of nephrology at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), highlights additional risk factors.
• Preterm babies with a birth weight below 2.5 kilograms, teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 20 who are obese, and those with a family history of kidney disease are at a higher risk.
• Hypertension and diabetes, sometimes detected accidentally, are significant contributors to kidney disease.
• To combat this silent progression, individuals at high risk should undergo creatinine tests every six months.
• Preterm and low-birth-weight individuals should avoid excessive physical exertion aimed at rapid weight gain and warn against the unregulated use of supplements and medications.