Kidney, Urinary, Gastro Intestinal, Liver

Can Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) be prevented: The following may reduce your risk of developing or worsening CKD: Stop smoking and drinking alcohol Eat a balanced diet – avoid eating high cholesterol foods Exercise regularly Avoid usage of unprescribed medicine e.g. NSAIDs (pain killers) and abuse of antibiotics Manage your diabetes well Control your blood pressure

Different stages of Chronic Kidney Disease(CKD) Stage 1: The eGFR (estimated GFR) shows normal kidney function but you have some pre-existing kidney damage or disease. eGFR is 90 or more ml/min/1.73m2. This is the first stage of CKD.  Stage 2: Mildly reduced kidney function and you are already known to have some kidney damage or disease. Stage 3: Moderately reduced kidney function (with or without a known kidney disease. For example, an elderly person with ageing kidneys may have reduced…

What causes Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Diabetes mellitus (an increase in blood sugar level) raises the risk of developing CKD.  Hypertension (high blood pressure), if poorly controlled, can lead to CKD. CKD can also cause high blood pressure. Diabetes and hypertension together are responsible for two-thirds of cases of CKD. Glomerulonephritis, a group of diseases that cause inflammation and damage to the kidney's filtering units. These disorders are the third most common type of kidney…

Tests for Chronic kidney disease In many CKD patients, previous renal disease or other underlying diseases are already known. A small number present with CKD of unknown cause. Assessment of GFR is the best test to measure the level of kidney function and determine the stage of kidney disease. Urinary tract ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound, in which the size of the kidneys is measured. Kidneys with CKD are usually smaller (< 9 cm) than normal kidneys, with notable exceptions such as in…

Your doctor may suggest the following treatments for CKD: Control of blood pressure Treatment of the original disease, like treatment of diabetes Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs) to control the progression of kidney disease by improving renal blood flow  Replacement of erythropoietin and calcitriol (intravenous or intramuscular iron therapy prior to treatment with erythropoietin is recommended) Phosphate binders used to control…

Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease Initially there are no specific symptoms and Chronic Kidney Disease is generally only detected as an increase in serum creatinine or protein in the urine. As kidney function decreases, you may have the following symptoms of CKD: Feel more tired and have less energy Have trouble concentrating Have poor appetite Have trouble sleeping Have muscle cramping at night Have swollen feet and ankles Have puffiness around your eyes, especially in the morning Have dry,…

Or is it sometimes the fall guy for other allergens? Dietitian Ujjwala Baxi tells you what to do if you think you are gluten-sensitive. First tip: Do not rush into a gluten-free diet plan. I first heard about gluten sensitivity during my college days when I was studying nutrition. During my year of internship in a 1,000-bed government hospital in India, I heard of only 3 gluten sensitive cases that were referred to the dietary department for a specific meal plan. This was 10 years back. Now, in…

Principles of a lifestyle free of gluten will entail: Avoid all foods made from wheat, rye and barley. Examples – daliya, wheat roti, paratha, noodles, pasta, naan, kulcha, poori, breads, biscuits, buns, patties, cookies, all sooji, vermicelli and maida items. Be aware of hidden sources of gluten and make your choice.  Condiments such as soy sauce, salad dressing, cheese spreads, bottled smoothies and milk shakes, malt vinegar also contain gluten. Processed foods are most likely to…

There is no cure for celiac disease. The only treatment is gluten-free diet which does not contain wheat, rye, barley and their derivatives. Gluten is found in biscuits, bakery items, saucesbread, pasta, breakfast cereals, snacks and other processed foods. Don’t forget to read food labels and see for gluten free alternatives. The disease severity will be varying depending on the patient’s immune response. Some patients can ingest small amounts of gluten without developing symptoms, while others…

Doctors often use Modified Marsh classification based on histopathology to understand various levels of intestinal damage identified in biopsy. Stage 0 – Pre infiltrative mucosa considered as normal. Stage 1 – Increase in the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELS) to more than 25 per 100 electrolytes with a normal crypt/villi ratio. Stage 2 – In addition to the increased IELS, there is an increase in crypt depth without a reduction in villus height. This is known as crypt hyperplasia.…