World Kidney Day 2024: Theme, History, and 8 Golden Rules to Keep Your Kidney Healthy!

World Kidney Day is a global health awareness initiative that focuses on the importance of having healthy kidneys, reducing kidney-related health issues, and encouraging awareness about new treatments. Every year, it is celebrated on the second Tuesday of March. This year, it falls on March 14.

Other than making people aware of kidney-related issues, the day also advocates for multiple level interventions that support kidney health such as universal and quality healthcare which will result in early diagnosis and treatment, availability of healthy food including investment in kidney-related medical research to discover new insights into the kidney diseases and development of new treatments.

World Kidney Day: History And Significance

World Kidney Day was celebrated in 2006 for the first time. It was a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations. According to statistics on Worldkidneyday.org, chronic kidney disease affects a staggering 850 million people globally. It has resulted in over 3.1 million deaths in just 2019.

Currently, kidney-related diseases rank as the eighth leading cause of death worldwide. All of these reasons call for much awareness about kidney diseases, accessibility of treatments, and early prevention. On the occasion of Kidney Day, many organisations, especially those that work in health and wellness, organise awareness campaigns and health camps.

World Kidney Day 2024 Theme

The 2024 World Kidney Day campaign theme is Kidney Health for All – Advancing Equitable Access to Care and Optimal Medication Practice. The campaign aims to improve access to kidney treatment around the world.

Tips To Keep Your Kidney Healthy

1. Exercise regularlyWhile regular exercise is good for one’s overall health, many studies show that regular exercise prevents kidney-related issues and even improves kidney function in chronic kidney disease patients.
2. Regulate your blood sugar levelIt is seen that about 50 percent of diabetes patients develop kidney damage. Therefore, it helps to regulate one’s blood sugar levels not just for treating diabetes but also preventing kidney damage.
3. Monitor your blood pressureOne of the side effects of having high blood pressure is aggravating kidney damage. Monitor your blood pressure levels and if you notice any anomalies, consult a doctor.
4. Eat healthy, and reduce sodium intakeOne of the main parts of eating healthy is reducing your salt intake. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults should have less than five grams of salt per day, this is equivalent to less than two grams of sodium.
5. Maintain healthy fluid intakeDrink 1.5 to 2 litres of water per day. Having good water intake keeps the kidneys clear of toxins like urea and excess sodium.
6. Do not smokeSmoking is known to double the risk of developing kidney cancer. Besides, smoking cigarettes reduces the flow of blood to the kidneys, impacting their ability to function.
7. Do not take over-the-counter pills regularlyTaking over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen can damage the kidney, if taken consistently for long periods.
8. Get regular kidney check-upsOne should undergo periodic kidney check-ups, especially if they have health issues like diabetes and hypertension. Regular check-ups help in early diagnosis and early treatment.