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Empowering Lives on World Kidney Day: A Global Call for Equitable Kidney Care

Priya and Maya, two sisters deeply connected by laughter and shared experiences, lived together in the bustling suburbs of Mumbai. Priya was battling kidney failure, her life entwined with the rhythm of dialysis machines. Despite her fading hope, she hoped for a transplant to restore her vitality.

Maya, observing her sister’s suffering, decided to offer her kidney if she was a match. This act of courage led them through anxious days of tests until they received the news: Maya was a compatible donor.

The surgery that followed was a testament to their bond, as Maya’s kidney was successfully transplanted into Priya. The sisters recovered, their lives enriched by this profound act of love and sacrifice. They returned to their daily routines, their bond now encompassing the shared beat of a single kidney.

Their story, resounding with the spirit of World Kidney Day 2024, illuminates the transformative power of organ donation—a gift that transcends the physical to touch the essence of human connection.

March 14, 2024, marks a significant milestone as the world unites under the banner of World Kidney Day. This year’s theme, “Kidney Health for All – Advancing Equitable Access to Care and Optimal Medication Practice,” champions a universal crusade against disparities in kidney care. It’s a clarion call for collective action, aiming to bridge the gap and ensure comprehensive access to preventative measures and treatments for kidney disease, irrespective of geographical or socio-economic barriers.

The Unsung Heroes: Our Kidneys

Our kidneys, the vigilant custodians of our health, perform crucial roles that extend far beyond waste elimination. These remarkable organs regulate blood pressure, produce vital hormones, and maintain our body’s electrolyte balance. World Kidney Day 2024 serves as a reminder of our kidneys’ indispensable role in our well-being, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding these vital organs through proactive health practices and education.

Bridging the Healthcare Divide: A Journey Towards Kidney Health for All

In India, a nation marked by its rich tapestry of cultures and histories, the challenge of kidney health emerges as a critical concern. The “Kidney Health for All” campaign illuminates the stark disparities that punctuate the landscape of kidney care in the country. Despite the strides made in medical technology and treatment methods, a significant portion of India’s population confronts kidney diseases from the shadows, encumbered by the lack of access to essential diagnostics, treatments, and the financial resources necessary for managing their conditions.

Access and Education

In the quest for optimal kidney health management, the role of appropriate medication cannot be overstated. Medications are pivotal in decelerating the progression of kidney diseases and enhancing the quality of life for those affected. However, in India, the path to optimal medication practice is fraught with obstacles—chief among them being the disparities in access and education. There is a pressing need for improvements in prescription practices and patient education, emphasizing the imperative of policies that bolster medication affordability and accessibility for all citizens.

World Kidney Day 2024 serves as a beacon, highlighting the urgent requirement for a comprehensive approach that addresses these disparities head-on. It advocates for an inclusive healthcare system where every individual, regardless of their socio-economic status or geographical location, has access to the screenings, treatments, and support essential in combating kidney disease.

A Unified Effort for Kidney Health in India

The call for awareness, education, and advocacy grows louder on World Kidney Day 2020. It is a clarion call here to the healthcare professionals, policymakers, patients, and the public—to unite in a shared mission to champion kidney health equity. This is an opportune moment to enrich our collective understanding of the challenges besetting kidney health in India and to actively participate in the global movement advocating for equitable kidney care.

From policy advocacy aimed at eliminating barriers to kidney care to supporting research that pioneers new treatment modalities, every action contributes to sculpting a future where kidney health is prioritized, and equitable care is a reality for everyone. It underscores the collective responsibility we hold to foster an environment where the advancements in kidney health are accessible to all, bridging the healthcare divide that has long affected the Indian populace.

As we mark World Kidney Day 2024, let us rally together to advance kidney health for all in India. Inspired by the global theme, our focus remains steadfast on ensuring that every Indian has access to the care and knowledge needed to combat kidney disease. In embracing the pillars of awareness, education, and advocacy, we pave the way for a future where disparities in kidney care are a thing of the past, and optimal kidney health is within the reach of every individual across the nation.

Inspired by stories like Priya and Maya’s, we are reminded of the life-altering impact of organ donation and the collective responsibility to advance kidney health globally. Let us stand together to champion kidney health for all, fostering a world where health equity is not just an aspiration but a reality.

#BeTheForce

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All You Need To Know About Maintaining Healthy Kidneys!

Your kidneys are one of the hardest working organs in your body. They help in removing waste and extra fluid from the body, reabsorb almost all of the water along with the minerals and nutrients your body needs, and remove excess acid from the blood as well. These are just a few things your kidneys do to keep your blood and body clean. So how do you ensure that you maintain healthy kidneys to help them do their job? Check out the detailed infographic below!

All You Need To Know About Kidney Health

Nothing beats regular exercise, especially yoga. These not only help the kidney, but the complete body. Yoga asanas assist in managing water retention in the body which enables sound sleep schedules and hence better rest. It is also one of the best ways to maintain balance in the body. Few asanas facilitate internal cleansing and flush out the toxins:

  1. Setu Bandhasana stimulates the abdominal organs, helps bring high blood pressure under control and relieves the body of stress.
  2. Bhujangasana stretches and strengthens the abdominal organs. It also raises the immunity level of the body.
  3. Ardha Matsyendrasana stimulates the kidneys and liver; improves the body’s immunity level.
  4. Paschimottanasana stimulates the kidney, improves digestion, and relieves menstrual discomfort.
  5. Naukasana improves digestion and alleviates stress. It strengthens and stimulates the abdominal organs.

We hope this article helps you. To know more about maintaining healthy kidneys, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach for some tips by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

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All About Your Kidneys – The Natural Cleansers

world kidneys day

Can you imagine your house not being cleaned for a day? Imagine no sweeping or mopping, and no sweeper collecting the garbage. The house would start smelling, it will get intense, and eventually there will be decay. Just like our house, the body needs to be cleaned. This essential and unparalleled job is done by a 10-13cm organ – the kidneys. The kidneys help in:

  • Removing waste and extra fluid from the body (Urine).
  • Maintaining a healthy balance of salts, water and minerals like sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium in the blood. It removes acid too! 
  • They also make hormones that help control blood pressure, make red blood cells and keep bones strong and healthy. 

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Kidney is the powerhouse of the body, supplying reserve energy to any organ running low on Qi. Its partner organ is the bladder.

The Kidney’s Job Profile

Each of the kidney is made up of about a million filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron includes a filter called the glomerulus and a tubule. The nephrons work through a two-step process:

The glomerulus filters the blood and the tubule returns needed substances to the blood and removes wastes. 

A blood vessel runs alongside the tubule. As the filtered fluid moves along the tubule, the blood vessel reabsorbs almost all of the water along with minerals and nutrients your body needs. The tubule helps remove excess acid from the blood. The remaining fluid and wastes in the tubule become urine.

The blood circulates through the kidneys many times a day. In a single day, kidneys filter about 150 quarts of blood. Most of the water and other substances that filter through the glomeruli are returned to the blood by the tubules. Only 1 to 2 quarts become urine.

Each kidney performs the process of reabsorption with great precision. Out of 180 liters of fluid that enters the tubules, 99% of fluid is selectively reabsorbed and only the remaining 1% of fluid is excreted in the form of urine.

By this intelligent and precise process, all essential substances and 178 liters of fluid are reabsorbed in the tubules, whereas 1-2 liters of fluids, waste products, and other harmful substances are excreted.

Urine formed by the kidneys flow to the ureters, and passes through the urinary bladder and is finally excreted out through the urethra.

Did you know that every minute, 1200 ml of blood enters the kidneys for purification, which is 20% of the total blood pumped by the heart? So in one day, 1700 liters of blood is purified!

Here is How You Can Take Care of Your Kidneys

  1. Drink up! Kidneys balance the electrolytes and fluid levels and hence its essential to drink liquids which are non-alcoholic and not caffeinated. Juices, coconut water, water, smoothies, etc. are your friends
  2. Check the colour of your urine. It should be the colour of a straw. Any darker means you need to drink up.
  3. Too much oily and fatty food is a big no! It puts pressure on the kidneys. Greens are your friends! 
  4. Ensure you have a normal blood pressure. It can silently impact your kidneys.
  5. Alcohol and smoking is a BIG no. There are no two ways about it! Just stop it
  6. Got diabetes? If you do, work with your doctor to keep your blood sugar levels in check. If they’re not under control, that can cause problems for your kidneys over time. Along with hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes is one of the biggest concerns for kidney health.
  7. Use your meds correctly. Take them as your doctor recommends, or follow the instructions on the package. Be wary of medicines that can cause kidney damage when you take them for a long time, including over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen and prescriptions such as lithium and HIV medications. (Street drugs like cocaine can cause kidney disease too).
  8. Check your weight & exercise regularly. 
  9. Be positive, not just for your kidneys but for your overall health. People who tend to hold negative thoughts especially envious feelings with hatred tend to get kidney disorder as compared to a positive person, as every emotion is linked with an organ. 

Yoga and Pranayama are your friends for life!

Nothing beats regular exercise especially yoga and pranayama. These not only help the kidney, but the complete body. Yoga asanas assist in managing water retention in the body which enables sound sleep schedules and hence better rest. It is also one of the best ways to maintain balance in the body. Few asanas facilitate internal cleansing and flush out the toxins. Pranayam is known to relieve stress. 

To ensure that the kidneys perform their JD up to the mark, make sure you make your body do the following:

  1. Setu Bandhasana stimulates the abdominal organs, helps bring high blood pressure under control and relieves the body of stress.
  2. Bhujangasana stretches and strengthens the abdominal organs. It also raises the immunity level of the body.
  3. Ardha Matsyendrasana stimulates the kidneys and liver; improves the body’s immunity level.
  4. Paschimottanasana stimulates the kidney, improves digestion, and relieves menstrual discomfort.
  5. Naukasana improves digestion and alleviates stress. It strengthens and stimulates the abdominal organs. 

We hope this article helps you. To know more about improving kidney health, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach for some tips by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

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