Healthy lifestyle can prevent kidney disease: experts

Unhealthy lifestyle leads to increase in kidney ailment as Bangladesh is hugely suffering from the disease due to rapidly changed food habit and way of life, health experts said today. 

The people are being habituated with fast food items and advancement technology are shirking space for physical movement, resulting in many non-communicable diseases including diabetes, heart diseases and high blood pressure, they told a discussion at Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall of Dhaka University (DU) in the capital. 

On the occasion of the World Kidney Day-2017, Dhaka University and Save Life Foundation jointly organised the discussion. 

Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, National Prof Dr Shahla Khatun, Chairman of Pharmacy Department at DU Prof Shitesh Chandra Bachar, Head of Kidney Department of Dhaka Medical College Prof Nizam Uddin and Kidney specialist Dr Sohely Ahmed Sweety, among others, addressed the discussion. 

Associate Professor of Social Welfare and Research Institute of DU Shahana Nasrin conducted the discussion. 

Following the programme, Save Life Foundation also set up a camp at Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall of the university to provide free medical check-up for students. 

Prof Arefin said, "Healthy people are asset of the country. So, we should maintain good health having balanced diets as well as adopting adequate physical movement." 

He stressed the need for launching awareness campaign to education the people about the diseases.

Kidney diseases are preventable, Prof Nizam said, "We can save our lives from the diseases though taking preventive measures. Kidney ailment is deeply linked to diabetes and high blood pressure. So, we have to control both this non-communicable diseases." 

Dr Sohely Ahmed said, Kidney disease has emerged as a serious public health problem as nearly 50 lakh children in the country are now somehow suffering from kidney ailments. 

Alarming rise of kidney diseases among the children is a global phenomenon and its early detection can save millions of children's lives. 

Other speakers said the number of kidney patients is increasing in the country at an alarming rate due to unhealthy life styles. "We need to expedite our awareness campaign to create awareness among the people.... If we maintain healthy lifestyle along with proper diet, we can prevent kidney ailment," he added.