The results of the survey were surprising and concerning. It was found that most people across cities are not aware about the causes, symptoms and treatment options of renal diseases.With this in mind, we decided to dedicate an article to create awareness about renal diseases and their treatment options.

Before we begin, let us take a quick look at the major functions our kidneys perform.

Understand their importance

Kidneys serve the important functions of regulating the body’s fluid levels as well as releasing three important hormones in the body—erythropoietin, renin and calcitrol. Erythropoietin stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells; renin regulates blood pressure; and calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, helps maintain calcium levels and normal chemical balance in the body.

The early warning signs of kidney trouble are very subtle and hence many people don’t know that they are living with a problem. Familiarise yourself with these symptoms so that you don’t become one of them.

Look for these symptoms

1. Frequent urge to urinate
2. Formation of foamy, bubbly, unusually pale or dark urine and presence of blood in the urine
3. Strange swelling in ankles, feet, legs or hands
4. Anaemia and fatigue
5. Bouts of dizziness
6. Nausea
7. Altered taste
8. Bad breath
9. Shortness of breath
10. Back pain or pain on the sides near the hip.

Know the disorders

There are three stages of kidney disease:

• Acute Kidney Injury [ARF-Acute Renal Failure] is characterised by a sudden drop in kidney function, generally brought on by an accident that injures the kidneys, a sudden loss of blood or a poisonous toxin from a drug. ARF can lead to permanent loss of kidney function, if not treated immediately. However, if the kidneys are not severely damaged, renal failure may be reversed.
• Chronic Kidney Disease [CKD] is the gradual loss of kidney function and is the most common form of kidney disease. If left untreated, it leads to permanent kidney failure, which can result in a heart attack or stroke. The early stage of CKD does not show any symptoms of improper functioning.However, as the disease progresses, the person may experience fatigue, dry and/or itchy skin, frequent urination, loss of appetite, nausea, swelling of the hands or feet, numbness in the hands or feet, trouble concentrating, darkening of the skin or muscle cramps. Other complications include anaemia, weak bones, nerve damage and heart disease.
• End Stage Renal Disease [ESRD] is last stage of CKD i.e. total loss of kidney function. Once the kidneys have reached ESRD, the damage becomes permanent and irreversible. In such cases, the only way out is to undergo dialysis or opt for a kidney transplant. If detected early, progression of the disease may be slowed down.

Keep a check

Normally, protein and albumin do not get filtered through the kidneys. Hence, presence of these in the urine indicates early damage to the kidneys. It is also recommended that those with kidney disease follow a low-protein diet with low-salt intake to keep blood pressure under control. Along with this, it is also advised to eat a healthy diet and avoid too many spicy and fried foods.

Since two-thirds of all kidney diseases are caused by either high blood pressure or diabetes, controlling blood pressure and blood glucose levels goes a long way in keeping the kidneys healthy.

In case of hypertension or diabetes, a regular check of urine for presence of albumin is essential. It has also been found that in India diabetes and hypertension are responsible for 40 – 50 per cent of all cases of chronic renal failure.

Hence, it is of prime importance to understand the causes and symptoms of kidneys disorders to catch them at an early stage.

With inputs from Rajan Ravichandran, director of nephrology at MIOT hospital, Chennai.

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If you’re diagnosed with anaemia, it usually means that your red blood cell [RBC] count is abnormally low, so it can’t carry enough oxygen to all parts of your body. It also may mean that there is a reduction in the haemoglobin content of your RBCs. Anaemia is a condition – not a disease – but it can be a symptom of a more serious illness.

Usually, anaemia is due to iron deficiency, but also can be caused by not having enough vitamins like B12; B6; folic acid; and/or copper in your system.

Anaemia has the following symptoms:

• Weakness, dizziness and quick exhaustion
• Shortness of breath and palpitation on exertion
• Pale skin
• Failing memory
• A tired look, lined with premature wrinkles
• Occasional disturbing headache
• Slow healing wounds
• Lack of shine in eyes, mirroring fatigue.

The main causes of anaemia are:

• Loss of blood from the body i.e. haemorrhage by injury, bleeding piles, bleeding nose, mouth, lungs, anus, genital tracts or excessive menstruation in case of women
• Inadequate supply of blood-forming ingredients in the diet
• Destruction of red blood corpuscles inside the body after they are formed
• Deficiency in the production of blood because of defective functioning of liver and/or bone marrow
• Lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, needed for digestion of iron and proteins
• Presence of hookworms, pinworms, round worms and tapeworms that feed on the supply of blood as well as on vitamins in our body
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding
• Excessive alcohol or drug use.

Helpful remedies

Anaemia can be difficult to diagnose because the fatigue associated with it is easily mistaken for a number of other conditions. If your doctor has diagnosed you with anaemia, try these home remedies that can help on your road to recovery.

The main dietary requirement for those with anaemia is to pack meals with as much iron as possible, as it is a vital nutrient in reproducing RBCs.

• Eat foods rich in vitamin C at the same time that you eat whole grains, spinach, and legumes. This will increase absorption of the iron in these foods.
• Make sure you are eating plenty of iron rich food, such as green leafy vegetable, beetroot, dried fruits, bran flake, oysters, brown rice, lentils and molasses, raisins, and prunes.
• Drink coffee or tea between meals rather than with meals as caffeine reduces iron absorption.
• Include sesame seeds, almonds, soy beans, animal fat, dairy products, radish, carrots, tomatoes, blackberries, bananas, and apples in your diet.
• Soak 10 black currants overnight. Remove seeds and have for 3-4 weeks, first thing in the morning.
• Try to cook in iron pots; it is proven that doing it can significantly increases the amount of iron in your foods.
• Honey helps to increase the haemoglobin in the blood as it is rich in iron, copper and manganese.
• Manganese is essential for people with iron deficiency. It aids in protein and fat metabolism, healthy nerves, immune system and blood sugar regulation.
• Daily intake of 3-4 pieces of dry figs help in curing anaemia.
• Deep breathing and light exercise like walking also tones up the system, increases the blood level and helps in anaemia cure.
• Enjoy sun-bathing as sunlight stimulates the production of RBCs.
• Daily consumption of amla also helps to increase haemoglobin levels as amla enhances production of blood cells.

These home remedies might aid you avoid the complications of anaemia. It is advisable to check your haemoglobin level. Consult your doctor who might also prescribe an iron supplement if the levels are too low. These will also facilitate in a speedy recovery.

The post Managing Anaemia appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

World Health Day on April 7 marks the founding of the World Health Organization [WHO] and is an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year. In 2008, World Health Day focuses on the need to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change. The theme “Protecting health from climate change” raises the profile of health dangers posed by global climate variability and change.

Just as countries around the world have recognised the urgent need to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to address the climate change challenge, we must all do our fair share as our long-term health depends on it.

Q: What are the health impacts of climate change on people?

Climatic factors are an important determinant of various vector-borne diseases, many enteric illnesses and certain water-related diseases. Here’s an overview of how climate change can affect our health.

Warm spells, heatwaves and stagnant air masses

• Heat stroke, affecting mainly children and the elderly
• Increase in respiratory diseases
• Cardio-vascular illnesses.

Warmer temperatures and disturbed rainfall patterns

• More exposure to diseases like malaria, dengue, Japanese encephalitis and other diseases carried by vectors such as mosquitoes, rodents and ticks [known as “vectors”. These diseases are therefore called vector-borne diseases.

Heavy precipitation events

• Increased risk of diseases related to contaminated water [water borne] and to unsafe food [food-borne]. Depletion of safe water supplies and poor sanitation will increase the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera.

Droughts

• Malnutrition and starvation particularly affecting children’s growth and development.
• Reduced crop yields causing stress for farmers and their families [known as “psychosocial stress”], who may be unable to pay their debts during extended and repeated droughts.

Intense weather events [cyclones, storms]

• Loss of life, injuries, life long handicaps
• Damaged public health infrastructure such as health centres, hospitals and clinics.
• Loss of life, loss of property and land, displacement and forced migration due to disasters will bring about psychosocial stress affecting mental health.

Q: How can individuals deal with the associated heath problems?

There are two basic ways to deal with the health problems of climate change:

• Reduce the causes of climate change and its consequences on human health – known as “mitigation” and
• Improve the capacity to cope with the health risks by being better prepared – known as “adaptation”.

For example, some measures that will reduce our household greenhouse gases [GHGs] emissions include:

1. Less use of AC and water coolers.
2. Use low-energy light bulbs and switch them off when leaving the room.
3. Save water by not letting it run while brushing your teeth.
4. Turn off computers, TV and other appliances when not in use.
5. Improve insulation systems in your homes by designing your houses better.
6. Walk or cycle more – use the car less!
7. Share ride to school with friends and neighbours. It’s also fun!
8. Implement the “Three R’s principle”: Reduce, Recycle, Re-use!
9. Home water purification treatments can prevent water-borne diseases.
10. Sleeping in mosquito nets can protect us from being bitten by mosquitoes carrying diseases such as malaria and dengue.

Tips to reduce effects of climate change

“A to Z” tips on what “WE” can do “NOW”, to help reduce the adverse health impacts from climate change.

• Act Now!
• Buy energy efficient appliances: Make informed choices. If you’re buying a washing machine, refrigerator, dish-washer or oven, buy the most energy-efficient model you can afford. The same is true for procurement of office equipment, such as computers, photocopiers and printers.
• Calculate your personal carbon footprint and cut your greenhouse gas emissions.
• Debate, discuss, distribute leaflets, brochures and posters on climate change and environmental health issues.
• Enjoy the sun! Fit solar panels on the roof of your home. Why not turn your home or office into a clean power station? Solar power is renewable and plentiful!
• Fridge: Don’t leave fridge doors open for longer than necessary; let foods cool down fully before placing in the fridge or freezer; defrost regularly and keep the appliance at the right temperature. Where possible, don’t place cookers and fridges/freezers next to each other.
• Go Green! If you have to buy a car, buy a fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly one. This will save you money and keep more CO2 from going into the atmosphere. Make sure that your tires are inflated correctly — this can save you five per cent on the cost of your petrol. Share car journeys with your work colleagues or friends. Make more use of public transport, such as the metro, and the train for longer journeys. For short trips and local shopping, try walking or use a bicycle. It keeps you fit and is fun too!
• Halve your emissions by moving your air conditioner thermostat up by 5?C in summer. Almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to cooling. Maintain the filters on your air conditioners by cleaning them regularly. A clean air filter can save pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
• Involve your family, friends, children and neighbours!
• Join an environmental group. Find out what action groups are doing around your locality or region; if there are no groups, start one!
• Kick start an environmental campaign in your neighbourhood
• Lamps: Replace the bulbs you use most with compact fluorescent lamps or CFL bulbs.
• Minimise the use of toxic chemicals. Use non toxic, biodegradable, water- or plant-based paints, cleaners and pest repellents.
• Network with specialised agencies, non-profit organisations and engaged communities.
• Offset your carbon footprint. There are many cost-effective energy saving and carbon reducing steps anyone can take.
• Plant trees: The United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP] has launched a major worldwide tree planting campaign, aiming at planting one billion trees around the globe
• Quit using plastic bags. Carry your own bag with you when going shopping
• Recycle, repair and reuse materials. Tips, tricks and ideas for sustainable living.
• Save paper. Print on both sides of the paper. Proof-read documents on screen before printing. Do not discard one-sided printed pages; use them to make scratch pads.
• Turn off televisions, videos, stereos and computers when they are not in use — they can consume between 10 and 60 per cent of the power when in “stand-by” mode. Turn off computer screens and photocopiers when you take a break. Also turn off lights when you don’t need them.
• Use less energy, and conserve more of it!
• Do not waste water – close your tap while brushing your teeth, soaping clothes, body or dishes. Repair leaky plumbing fixtures; prevent overflowing of tanks. Energy is used for pumping and treating water. Save water to save energy!
• Value wastes! Do not dump your home wastes everywhere. Heaps of garbage left in the open emit methane and contribute to global warming. Segregate your wastes so they can be recycled or reused and where possible use organic waste for composting.
• Write letters about the health impacts of climate change to the local newspapers. This is a great way to keep the issue in the public mind. It also sparks a debate and allows us all to understand what the real issues are.
• X-press your concerns on environmental health issues and solutions and stay informed. Read widely and understand what we are dealing with.
• Your president, prime minister, parliamentarian or local leader needs to know about the impacts of climate change on health. Write letters to them asking for policies to ensure greenhouse gas emissions fall by at least three per cent each year from now on.
• Zoom in on reducing emissions: it is the best way forward! Our countries need new national legislation and laws to help ensure that we develop cleaner cars and cleaner power plants and to help us get government rebates on installing solar power, solar hot water or wind power in our homes.

The post Protect health from climate change appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Sprouting is the practice of soaking, draining and then rinsing seeds at regular intervals until they germinate, or sprout.Other seeds that can be sprouted are Goa beans [alsande], Bengal gram [white chana and red chana], black gram [urad], cow pea [chawli, or lobia], field bean [avare], green gram [moong], dehydrated green peas [vatana], horse gram [kuleeth], kidney beans [rajma], lentil [masur], moth bean [matki], pigeon pea or red gram [tur or arhar], soybean and dals, or split pulses like chana dal.

All whole pulses — moong, matki, chana, chole, chawli, rajma, vatana, masur etc., can be easily sprouted. Even grains and groundnuts when sprouted are easy to digest; they are more easily available as “energy” for the body. You can use all these sprouts to make wholesome, economic, regionally satisfying, one-dish-meals like khichdi, upma, ussal, bhel, poha, and so on.

Power food

Sprouts contain an abundance of highly active anti-oxidants that prevent cell destruction and protect us from the ongoing effects of aging. It may not be conceivable to find the fountain of youth, but sprouts or sprouting, to use a figure of speech, represent the miracle of birth.

When a proper diet of greens, seeds, nuts, vegetables, and fruit, is followed, a proper balance of acid versus alkaline foods is maintained. When the diet is heavy on the protein side, it results in acidity. Hence, it is necessary to eliminate as many acid-forming foods as possible. Sprouting helps to reduce the acid-alkaline imbalance which might occur when grains, legumes, and other proteins are used.

• Moong beans, apart from being a good source of protein also contain useful amounts of fibre, potassium, and B-vitamins. They contain low levels of fat, cholesterol and sodium. It is useful for those of us who want to increase their alertness and mental abilities. Phosphorous is also necessary for healthy bones and teeth, a fact which makes sprouted seeds desirable for babies and children
• Alfalfa, probably the most popular sprouted seed, contains much chlorophyll, as well as vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, G. K, and U. It also has large amounts of iron, calcium, phosphorous, and sulphur.
• Sprouted wheat contains vitamins C, E, B complex, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, sodium, potassium, protein, enzymes, chlorophyll, and possibly B-17. In its cooked form, wheat is unacceptable to some individuals. It causes mucous congestion, allergic reaction, and constipation. In its sprouted form, a large portion of starch is converted to simple sugars, making it a wholesome food that is acceptable to many who would, otherwise, need to eliminate wheat as a food source.

Sprouts in diet

For most people, sprouts would be an excellent addition to their diet. However, no set dietary rules can be established to encompass the case of every individual.

Sprouts are best when eaten raw, because cooking always destroys a large part of their nutritional content.

The entire sprout is eaten, including leaves and roots. Sprouts are good eaten by themselves, but they can also be added to salads, sandwiches, or soups. They can be blended for baby food, sauces, and dressings. They can be stored in the refrigerator in a jar or plastic bag for up to two weeks. It is preferable, however, to make small amounts at frequent intervals since seeds and sprouts tend to become rancid when held for too long a time.

Sprouts probably contain the largest amount of nutrients per unit of any food known. Enzymes that initiate and control most chemical reactions in our body are activated in the sprouting process. This helps convert proteins into amino acids and starch into glucose. It also increases the value of vitamins. For example, vitamin B increases by 1,000 per cent and vitamin C by 600 per cent in sprouted wheat.

It is best to eat sprouts fresh. However, the nourishment which develops as the sprouts grow is very stable and can be frozen, or dried, for future use. Sprouts can be mixed with other foods and dressings such as lemon juice and rock salt.

This live food rejuvenates body cells and tissues and provides energy. It also retards the aging process. Alfalfa and moong-bean sprouts are, on the other hand, excellent, soft food: they contain every known vitamin necessary for the human body in perfect balance.

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