Hyponatremia - Times of India

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World Kidney Day 2016 Celebration.

World Kidney Day 2016

SAPIENS HEALTH FOUNDATION a NGO committed to the cause of  providing Care and support  for kidney failure patients conducted a function in Chennai to celebrate World Kidney Day 2016. The theme for this year world kidney day was “Kidney Disease & Children. Act early to prevent it!”. Dr. Rajan Ravichandran, the founder of Sapiens Health Foundation highlighted the activities of the foundation and explained to the audience  important causes of kidney disease in children and the ways to prevent it. Urinary Tract Infection in children, he said should not be ignored. It warrants detailed investigation. Similarly , life style changes has led to increased incidence  of obesity and hypertension in children which can result in kidney disease in future. Prof. B.R. Nammalwar, one of the senior paediatric nephrologist of the country presided over the function and lauded the activities of Sapiens Health Foundation. Mr. Vidyaakar of Udavum Karangal was the guest of honour. Actor Bindu madhavi distributed medals to some of the children who had fought kidney diseases. Crazy Mohan enlivened the atmosphere through his characteristic  humour laced talk.

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Drug resistant pathogen

The lead story, “Drug-resistant bug causes worry” (Nov.29), was apt. More lives are lost due to multi-organ failure caused by sepsis in intensive care units than to natural calamities. When the subject of the ‘Delhi Bug’ was raised a few years ago, it resulted in a hue and cry and a spate of denials; no action. Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella is seen in almost 80 per cent of cultures in ICUs and even among ordinarily admitted patients in hospitals. This problem has persisted for more than a couple of years now.

Drug-resistant Klebsiella has colonised many hospitals. This is because of the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in regular medical practice as well as in poultry and cattle. Even a single course of a simple antibiotic like azithromycin has been shown to alter intestinal protective bacteria for almost six months. The general public should be discouraged from taking antibiotics for common ailments such as fever, cold and diarrhoea. Similarly, antibiotic usage in hospitals should be curtailed, and positive cultures without symptoms should not be treated. The lowest antibiotic should be tried. As in the West, antibiotic prescriptions should be audited.

Dr. Rajan Ravichandran,

Chennai

Original article Link

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/letters/drugresistant-pathogen/article7930347.ece#.Vlu4dazeNiM.email

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Sapiens PD assist programme

Launch of Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Assist Programme by Sapiens Health Foundation

Conventionally patients with kidney failure have been treated with hospital based haemodialysis in our country. Less than 10% undergo home based therapy or CAPD or Peritoneal Dialysis (PD). Sapiens Health Foundation a NGO championing the cause of kidney failure patients for several decades has launched a unique programme of assisting financially peritoneal dialysis patients. Dr. Rajan Ravichandran, the Chairman of the foundation spoke on the advantages of home based therapy and the convenience to work full time. According to him, if patients are educated to take care of themselves at home and if the cost comes down, PD would become the first line of treatment in the country. The procedure can be done anywhere including villages where hospital facilities are not available. The chief guest for the function Mr. Ganesan, Vice President, TCS  enrolled the first four patients for the PD assist programme. An appeal was made to the industrialists present to sponsor PD as a part of Corporate Social Responsibility. Mrs. Poornima Bhagyaraj  was the Guest of Honour who narrated her experience with her family member on Peritoneal Dialysis.

For more information visit www.sapiensfoundation.org.

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REDUCING SALT IN DIET REDUCES ALBUMIN IN URINE

120 villages in China were studied. The average salt intake was found to be 14gms/day. In 60 villages the salt was reduced in the diet. It was found that reducing salt resulted in less excretion of Protein/Albumin in urine. Similarly the blood pressure also showed downward trend in those people taking less salt.

THIS STUDY WAS PRESENTED IN AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY CONFERENCE HELD AT PHILADELPHIA IN NOVEMBER 2014.

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Salt Flakes or Corn Flakes?

Salt flakes or corn flakes? 

According to the study conducted by WASH  in several countries it was found that the food companies sell same product in different countries with different salt content.

For example
Kellogs cornflakes  in Middle East contains 2.8 gms per 100 gms

1.8 gms in UK, 1.75gms in Spain,  1.9gms in India

The All Bran  contains 2.15 gms in Canada, .65 in UK and surprisingly 4.5 gms in India

The same thing was applicable to products of companies like KFC, Mcdonalds, Nestle Burger King etc

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World Heart Day

WORLD HEART DAY

WHO has released some misconceptions about salt intake

1. "On a hot humid day when you sweat you require more salt".
      Sweat does not contain much salt but you require more water.

2. "Sea salt is better than manufactured salt because it is natural"
      Regardless of the source of salt, it is the sodium in salt which causes high blood pressure.

3. "Food has no flavour without salt"
     It may be true at first but soon the taste buds get accustomed to less salt.

4. "Food high in salt tastes salty"
     Not necessarily so. It is improtant to see the sodium content in the label.

5. "Only old people need to worry about the salt they eat"
      Eating too much salt can raise blood pressure at any age.

6. "Reducing salt could be bad for my health"
     It is very difficult to eat too little salt since sodium occurs in natural food also.

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