New Delhi: People go for organ transplant when one of their organs is working poorly or is failing. This needs an organ transplant that can lengthen a person’s life and allow the ones who have chronic diseases to live a normal lifespan. Organ transplantation is a medical miracle of the 20th century. India has the third largest number of organ transparent in the world with as many as 12,000 kidney transplants happening across the country each year.
Dr Amol Mahaldar, Consultant – Nephrology And Transplant Physician, Manipal Hospital Goa told News9, “The majority of these transplants come from living-related donors out of love and affection who are giving one kidney to their friend or relative requiring organ donation. The voluntary kidney donor is thoroughly investigated before allowing him or her to part with the organ. This is to ensure that the procedure of organ donation is safe and doesn’t entail any long-term risk.”
Studies done in Norway have shown that persons who have donated a kidney live longer and healthier lives than those persons who were rejected as kidney donors. This does not mean that the act of kidney donation improves health; rather it means that the prospective organ donors undergo very rigid screening before being declared as fit for donation.
According to Dr Mahaldar, “Even then, after such surgery, certain advice is given to kidney donors to reduce the risk of developing future illnesses.” The most important advice would be to take care of kidney health, and that generally means the following eight golden tips for preserving kidney health:
1. Plenty of water: Drinking 2 to 2.5 L of water daily, reduces the stress on the kidney
2. Reduce salt and fried/fast food: Salt is a major driver of high blood pressure, whereas fried and fast food causes high cholesterol, both resulting in worsening of kidney and heart health
3. Control weight: Made gain after organ donation can predispose to diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, and cause worsening of health.
4. Excercise: Healthy exercise by being active for at least 45 minutes daily, can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke; besides having a positive effect on mental health
5. Avoid smoking and alcohol: Cigarettes and alcohol, cause cancer, heart disease, and the majority of other human ailments and are best avoided
6. Avoid painkiller medicines: Painkiller medicines can affect the kidney and result in kidney failure as also stomach ulcers.
7. Control blood pressure, and diabetes: With expanding criteria now diabetic and hypertensive individuals are allowed to donate organs but are put on a rigid diet and lifestyle regimen to avoid complications related to blood pressure and sugar
8. Regular screening: Regular screening of kidney functions with blood tests and urine tests every six months is advised for every kidney donor.
According to expert, even then, after such surgery, certain advice is given to kidney donors to reduce the risk of developing future illnesses.” The most important advice would be to take care of kidney health, and that generally means the following eight golden tips for preserving kidney health Medicine Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
