Consume less salt to prevent kidney diseases

Mumbai, April 8: Cutting down on the intake of salt can go a long way in preventing kidney diseases at a young age, say health experts.

Kidney failure is among the top five major causes of death in the country, they say, adding that women, who are mostly in- charge of kitchens at homes, can play a role in ensuring a healthy diet with less intake of salt.

There has been an increase in the number of patients in the age group of 25 to 30 seeking dialysis, which was not the case five to six years back, says Dr Arun P Doshi, the consulting nephrologist at Mumbai's Saifee Hospital.

Hypertension is one of the causes of renal failure and there is a clear co- relation between salt intake and hypertension, he says.

“An excess intake of salt may result in hypertension, but conversely, if you can control the blood pressure, you can definitely cut down the chance of renal failure,” Doshi says.

“The onus, to regulate what constitutes our diet, should be on us and not just the women ( at home). But if someone oversees your daily food, then moderation of salt intake should definitely be high on his/ her list,” he says.

Doshi claimed that kidney failure is among the top five major causes of death of people in India.

“When it comes to our diet, foods like cheese, butter, sugar and salt are the major culprits and moderating their consumption should be prioritised,” he says.

Quoting the Indian Chronic Kidney Disease registry report, Dr Amit Langote, a consultant nephrologist at the Apollo Hospital in Navi Mumbai, says more younger people have been coming in for dialysis from north India, as compared to other regions.

This is because of the early detection of chronic kidney disease, he says.

“The epidemic of obesity and diabetes remains an important cause of the chronic kidney diease,” Langote says.

“Most Indian women are in- charge of the food prepared at homes. Raising awareness among them to reduce the use of salt, oil and sugar in the food of their loved ones would go a long way in curbing diabetes and better management of hypertension,” he says.