Are you prone to kidney failure

Are you prone to kidney failure?
Expert cites top 5 telltale signs
New Delhi: Present on either side of the spinal cord, kidneys are organs responsible for filtering blood, re- moving all toxins, passes those tox- ins on to the bladder and flush them out of the body through urination. However, due to certain factors, one or both kidneys stop functioning. That state is known as kidney failure or renal failure. At times, kidney failure is temporary and is triggered too fast. However, in most cases, the condition is chronic and continues to get worse over time with only di- alysis or a transplant being available as a way out. In an interaction with Times Now Digital, Dr Anup Chaudhary, Senior Consultant, Nephrology, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, spoke further about kidney failure. “Chronic kidney disease is a major clinical problem and one of the top 10 causes of death in India as per the recent Global Burden of Dis- eases study.
Thus, knowing and act- ing on signs of kidney diseases is essential to prevent organ failure. In most cases, chronic kidney disease doesn’t present symptoms at an early stage. However, individuals should look out for, bloody or frothy urine, repeated urge of urination, disturbed sleeping pattern, insom- nia; skin allergies unnatural swell- ing in feet or around the eyes,” Dr Chaudhary explained. What are the factors that increase kidney failure risk? Kidney failure can either happen too soon or may progress over time without being noticed. When the renal failure happens over time, diabetes and hypertension could be the key reasons responsible.
This form of kidney failure is chronic and does not happen overnight. Other causes of kidney failure include: Lack of blood circulation to the kid- neys A blood clot around the kidneys Severe dehydration Adverse impact of certain medication Heart disease Kidney disease Excessive use of drugs and alcohol Autoimmune conditions like lupus Multiple myeloma Abnormally high blood sugar levels What are the signs and symptoms of kidney failure? The one thing that makes kidney failure a huge risk is absence of symp- toms. And due to lack of any symp- toms, frequent screening of this condition in high risk groups – peo- ple older than 50 years of age or with comorbidities such as diabetes, hy- pertension, heart problems, or those with his history of chronic kidney diseases – can prevent kidney failure. With that being said, take a look at the top symptoms of kidney failure: Blood in urine Frothy urine Reduced amount and frequency of urination Skin problems Disturbed sleep patterns Insomnia Seizures Swelling in legs and ankles.

FROM DIET FOODS TO CALORIE INTAKE:
A DIETITIAN BUSTS WEIGHT LOSS MYTHS

New Delhi: Many people think that weight loss is a linear process that happens in the same way for everyone. But that is not true. In fact, weight loss happens differently for different people depending on their lifestyle, efforts, and several other factors. Similarly, people also tend to believe certain weight loss myths. Dietitian Manisha took to Instagram to share a few weight loss myths that people should not give into. “Please don’t believe in everything you read on the internet! Remember what you have gained over the years due to an unhealthy lifestyle will take time to lose,” she said.
Here’s what she said. All calories are equal Calorie is a measurement of energy. All calories have the same energy content. “However, this does not mean that all calorie sources have the same effects on your weight. Different foods go through different metabolic pathways and can have vastly different effects on hunger and the hormones that regulate your body weight. e.g. 1 cup ice cream has almost the same calories as a three-course healthy meal… We all know which one would be healthier,” she commented. Losing weight is a linear process Losing weight is usually not a linear process, as some people think. Some days and weeks you may lose weight, while during others you may gain a little bit because of multiple factors including muscle gain. People with obesity are unhealthy, and thin people are healthy Obesity is linked to several chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.
However, many people with obesity are metabolically healthy, while many thin people are not because even thin people can have high fat percentage and low muscle mass making them prone to lifestyle disorders. Diet foods can help you lose weight “Oftentimes, products marketed as diet foods are junk foods in disguise, as they’re heavily processed and may harbour hidden ingredients. The only thing you need to give your body when you are trying to lose weight; improve health markers and create a lifestyle that is sustainable,” she said.

What does Ayurveda say about coffee consumption?
New Delhi: Many of us start our day with a cup of cof- fee and end up consuming six to seven cups through- out the day. But it must be noted that excessive con- sumption can lead to various health troubles. So, if you are a coffee lov- er who just cannot do with- out their daily quota of the beverage, read on to know what Ayurveda suggests. According to Dr Aparna Padmanabhan, coffee is a stimulant that should be taken in limit. She lists reasons to be mindful about its consumption in an In- stagram post. Best to avoid on empty stomach as it can trigger acidity Dilute with milk if you have anxiety/acidity/excess dryness Good to add a spoonful of ghee to black coffee to counter excess dryness Avoid coffee after 3 pm if you have disturbed sleep Avoid if going through menopause, skin diseases, restlessness “Coffee has a lot of ‘rajas’ or activating energy.
So, if you have lethargy, it’s good to have a cup in the morn- ing between 8-10 am,” she mentioned. Avoid it as a mid meal drink as it can dampen the diges- tion and you won’t be hun- gry for your meal.

One blood test that can find 50 cancer types BEFORE symptoms appear; UK begins trials
One fact about cancer is that it is treatable – provided – it is found early and can also turn terminal and painful if it metastasizes. De- tection in time has been the silver bullet mankind has been searching for the king of maladies. Cancer.net lists at list 120 types of cancer. Tests for most types of can- cer are often expensive, invasive, not available at all medical facilities. It has been a prayer of mankind that some tests be formulated such that they overcome all these problems and obstacles and help early detec- tion so as to enhance the chances of effective treatment and cure.
Now, in the UK, the NHS doctors have (since Monday 13 September) begun using a “revolutionary” blood test to spot more than 50 cancers earlier. The Galleri process is par- ticularly good at detecting hard-todiagnose tumours including bowel and pancreatic cancers, reports Express.co.uk. The NHS-Galleri trial is being run by the Cancer Re- search UK and King’s College Lon- don Cancer Prevention Trials Unit in partnership with the health ser- vice and healthcare company GRAIL, which developed the test technique. The Galleri Process: The world’s largest clinical trial: About 140,000 people are joining the clinical trials The test is said to hunt down and highlight fragments of tumour DNA. It can even pinpoint the likely loca- tion of the disease.
Hopefully will catch far more cases at an early stage of growth It has been found that treatment is more likely to be successful when begun early Express.co.uk cites the Daily Express as a source that claims that NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard told them: “Today marks a really promising moment for the detection of cancer both here and around the world. The first patients will start to receive the revolutionary Galleri blood test which can, incredibly, detect cancer in the blood before symptoms even appear. There is good evidence that the test works, and the NHS is now getting to work putting it into place in a real-life setting, for the first time. “Treatment can start more quickly, and we can get one step ahead of cancer.”
Cells jettison DNA fragments into the bloodstream, where the Galleri test can pick up abnormalities re- leased by cancerous ones. The good news is that it will help detect those types of cancers that are hard to diagnose early, includ- ing head, neck, bowel, lung, pan- creatic and throat tumours. This is not the first test of the Galleri method. An earlier study involving 4,000 people suggested Galleri identified when cancer was present in 51.5 per cent of cases, giving a false-positive result in only 0.5 per cent. With solid tumours that are not screened for currently – such as oe- sophageal and liver cancers – the test was even more sensitive, detect- ing 66 per cent of cases It also showed accurately where tumours were in the body in 89 per cent of positive cases. How will this test be carried out? Patients are being recruited from several areas of England.
Literally, thousands of people between the ages of 50 to 77 will be contacted and invited to take part. It will be ensured that the total number of patients come from different backgrounds and ethnicities The condition is that they must not have had a cancer diagnosis in the last three years. They must attend a mobile clinic sited in retail parks and at other convenient locations. They must provide blood samples three times over the following two years.
It also showed accurately where tumours were in the body in 89 per cent of positive cases. How will this test be carried out? Patients are being recruited from several areas of England. Literally, thousands of people between the ages of 50 to 77 will be contacted and invited to take part. It will be ensured that the total number of patients come from different backgrounds and ethnicities The condition is that they must not have had a cancer diagnosis in the last three years. They must attend a mobile clinic sited in retail parks and at other convenient locations. They must provide blood samples three times over the following two years.

What is `picky eating’?
Dietician explains signs and causes
New Delhi: In childhood, picky eating is common. There, however, are times when one should be con- cerned. “Picky eating may leave out important nutri- ents needed for child’s growth and in adults, it may lead to deficiencies or seri- ous eating disorders,” said Lakshita Jain, certified clinical dietician, and founder of NUTR. One big reason for picky eating is diet trends which require you to remove cer tain foods or even a whole food group. Picky eating on milk and wheat have become common and in the long-term, may lead to deficiencies, diet guilt and in some food disorders, she said. Four signs to look for Avoiding entire food groups Impacted growth and weight gain Exhibiting anxiety, worry or obsessive-compulsive disorder tendencies Lack of hunger Children It is normal for your ‘perfect’ eater to become more ‘picky’ around 15-18 months.
Most children really don’t need very much food, since their growth slows at this stage, said Jain. “Parents are responsible for what foods and drinks are offered to children, when meals and snacks are served, and how the food is presented. Introducing different food in early stages of life makes the food plate varied. Remember, picky kids become picky adults,” she Jain. Food disorders Picky eating doesn’t lead to food disorders, but eliminating a certain food to look good and lose weight can, noted Jain.
Three most common food disorders: Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia is a common eat- ing disorder especially in young women to avoid weight gain. This means vomiting (purging) or ex- cessive exercising and fast- ing after heavy meals. They eat their meals properly but then vomit to throw out the food, mentioned Jain. Anorexia Nervosa It is a “life-threatening eat- ing disorder” where the person has distorted body image and unwarranted fear of being overweight.
He or she has below-normal weight through starvation or too much exercise. Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Individuals find the very sight of food makes them feel sick, anxious or afraid, and will often restrict their intake to just a few ‘safe’ foods. “Often miscatego- rised as picky eating, ARFID is a serious condition that can affect people of all ages and has serious impacts on health,” Jain said. Ways to avoid picky eating Start slow Add one food item to a meal and don’t introduce new food unless comfortable with the last one. Don’t pressure eat Don’t get pressured by par- ents or peer groups to eat a certain food. Instead, take your time and enjoy the substitute and have a small portion of new food. Cooking method Change the form of food you don’t like. For example, if your child is picky eating on green vegetables, make it in puree form and add it in dals, sabzi or knead dough with it. Consult a doctor Taking help from a profes- sional will be a healthy way of introducing new foods, said Jain.

Covid-19 pandemic:
All you need to know about new variants
As the Covid-19 pandemic rages across the world, new variants are coming to light that needs to be monitored and studied to understand the behaviour. Virologists say that these new genetic changes might make the virus more transmissible and allow it to cause more severe damage and escape the immune mechanism. Let’s take a look at the latest Mu and C.1.2 variants of Covid-19. WHAT IS THE Mu VARIANT? First detected in Colombia in January 2021, Mu (B.1.621) variant has been classified as a “variant of inter- est” and the fifth variant to be monitored since March by WHO. Mu has a constellation of mutations that poses potential properties of immune escape. Mu variant has a number of mutations that suggest it could be more resistant to vaccines. By the end of August, over 4,500 sequences have been designated as Mu in the past 4 weeks with most cases re- ported in the US (2,065), Colombia (852), Mexico (357) and Spain (473). Dr. Shashank Joshi, Member of Ma harashtra Covid Task Force says “In both vaccinated & non-vaccinated population, there will be pressure on the virus ecology and we’ll get to see more and more mutations”. He adds that earlier mutations were less sinister but newer mutations are spreading faster with more damage. WHAT IS C.1.2 VARIANT? C.1.2 carries some mutations previously seen in the C.1 variant and it has picked up additional mutations within the E, M, N & other proteins. Experts believe that C.1.2 contains many mutations identified in all 4 VOCs (Alpha, Beta, Delta & Gamma).
First detected in the Mpumalanga & Gauteng provinces of South Africa, this variant later surfaced in the KwaZulu-Natal & Limpopo provinces of South Africa and is now detected in England & China as well. According to a recent study, C.1.2 has “mutated substantially” compared to C.1 variant. Experts say C.1.2 is undergoing 41.8 mutations per year and number of C.1.2 genomes rose from 0.2% in May,