March 9th: World Kidney Day

World Kidney Day is an annual global awareness campaign held on the second Thursday of March to raise awareness about the importance of kidney health and to reduce the burden of kidney disease worldwide. The first World Kidney Day was celebrated in 2006, and since then, it has become an important event in the health calendar of many countries. The theme for World Kidney Day 2023 is “Kidneys Age, Just Like You - Keep Them Healthy.”

Kidneys are essential organs that filter waste and excess fluids from the blood and excrete them in the form of urine. They also play a crucial role in regulating blood pressure, producing red blood cells, and maintaining electrolyte balance in the body. However, kidney disease is a significant public health problem worldwide. According to the International Society of Nephrology, kidney disease is the 12th leading cause of death globally, with approximately 850 million people affected by some form of kidney disease.

The main risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, and a family history of kidney disease. However, kidney disease can also be caused by infections, autoimmune diseases, and some medications. The symptoms of kidney disease are often silent until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage, making early detection and intervention essential.

World Kidney Day aims to raise awareness about kidney disease, its risk factors, and the importance of early detection and treatment. The campaign also promotes healthy lifestyle choices that can help reduce the risk of developing kidney disease, such as regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption.

The World Kidney Day campaign is organized by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations. It is supported by various organizations, including healthcare professionals, patient groups, and governments, who organize events and activities to raise awareness about kidney disease in their communities.

Some of the activities organized on World Kidney Day include free kidney health screenings, educational seminars, and public awareness campaigns. These activities aim to increase awareness about the importance of kidney health and encourage people to take action to protect their kidneys.

In conclusion, World Kidney Day is an essential global awareness campaign that aims to reduce the burden of kidney disease worldwide. By raising awareness about the risk factors for kidney disease and promoting healthy lifestyle choices, the campaign encourages people to take care of their kidneys and seek early intervention if they suspect they may have kidney disease. The theme for World Kidney Day 2023, “Kidneys Age, Just Like You - Keep Them Healthy,” highlights the importance of kidney health throughout our lifespan.

How to keep your kidneys healthy?

1. Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps to keep your kidneys healthy by flushing out toxins and waste from the body.
2. Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity is a risk factor for kidney disease. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight through regular exercise and a balanced diet can help reduce your risk of developing kidney disease.
3. Eat a healthy diet: Eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources can help keep your kidneys healthy. Avoid foods that are high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats.
4. Exercise regularly: Regular exercise can help reduce your risk of developing kidney disease by improving blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.
5. Manage underlying health conditions: If you have underlying health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, managing them effectively can help protect your kidneys.
6. Quit smoking: Smoking can damage the blood vessels in your kidneys, making them less efficient at filtering waste and toxins from the body. Quitting smoking can help protect your kidneys and reduce your risk of kidney disease.
7. Limit alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can cause high blood pressure and other health problems that can increase your risk of kidney disease. Therefore, it is important to limit your alcohol consumption to moderate levels.
8. Get regular check-ups: Regular check-ups with your healthcare provider can help detect kidney problems early, when they are more treatable. They may also recommend blood and urine tests to check your kidney function.

How can BioCertica help?

If you suffer from any kidney disease, you may know that the right medication is of utmost importance for overcoming the disease. There is growing evidence that pharmacogenetic testing can play a significant role in optimizing drug therapy in patients with kidney disease.

Patients with kidney disease are often prescribed multiple medications to manage their condition and associated comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. However, the impaired kidney function in these patients can alter drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, leading to potential toxicity or suboptimal efficacy.

Pharmacogenetic testing can help identify genetic variants that may influence drug response and metabolism in patients with kidney disease, leading to personalized drug dosing and improved patient outcomes. For example, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may have genetic variants that affect the metabolism of anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin, which can increase the risk of bleeding or thromboembolic events. Pharmacogenetic testing can identify these genetic variations, enabling clinicians to personalize warfarin dosing and reduce the risk of adverse events.

At BioCertica, we offer a DNA Pharmacogenetics Test, which you can use to discover what medications you should take for kidney or any other disease according to your genetic makeup, of course with consulting your physician to help him make an easier decision in your favor.