What is the connection between our kidneys and blood pressure? A very strong one, experts say. At a recently held ASSOCHAM 'illness to wellness summit,' leading medical experts highlighted the crucial link between kidney health and blood pressure. Dr Sanjeev Bagai, paediatrician and chairman of Nephron Clinic, spoke about kidney infections in children and how warning signals at younger age groups are "subtle and hidden."
For instance, if a child complains of frequent headaches, his or her blood pressure (BP) should be monitored immediately as high BP can be an early indicator of kidney issues, said Dr Bagai. "As a preventive measure, it is essential that all children undergo a routine blood pressure check at least once a year. Other indicators of kidney dysfunction in children is a decline in growth, abdominal pain, and swelling in the limbs," he further added. Additionally, experts spoke about the need for parents to be cautious about administering medications at home without proper medical guidance as their "irrational use, particularly antibiotics, can cause significant damage to infant kidneys.”
The 3rd Awareness Summit on Illness to Wellness, a two-day event hosted by #ASSOCHAM, began with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony graced by prominent leaders. The summit highlighted the need to move beyond treating illnesses and prioritise a holistic wellness approach.
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Emphasising the importance of blood pressure checks for kidney health, Dr D Bhowmik, Professor and Head, Department of Nephrology, AIIMS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said, “Most people believe that blood pressure is controlled by the heart, but in reality, the heart is the pump functioning as per the direction given by the kidney. The kidney produces a hormone called renin, which regulates blood pressure. If something goes wrong with this system, it can lead to serious problems."
By definition, blood pressure is the pressure in the main arteries that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body, but when a healthy blood pressure is regulated by the kidneys which control the amount of fluid in circulation. But this process can be seriously affected if the kidneys are damaged, leading to Hypertension or high blood pressure. "In a way, high blood pressure can be both a cause and a consequence of kidney disease, and sometimes it can be difficult to determine which came first," said Dr Bhowmik.
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In a paper published in the International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, scientist Abhishek M Subramanya from the department of nephrology at Manipal Hospitals in Bengaluru, writes that "a large proportion of patients with chronic kidney disease have inadequate blood pressure control." Doctors at the summit agreed that "hypertension is a major public health problem in India with low awareness, and it requires aggressive community-based screening." Controlling high blood pressure is the most important step towards addressing the ‘vicious cycle’ of hypertension and progressive kidney damage, was the message at the summit.
The ASSOCHAM Awareness Summit brought together over 50 distinguished specialists and wellness professionals from across the country, offering valuable insights on various topics across 11 sessions covering a range of health topics. Key discussions included a range of issues from mitigating the effects of air pollution; the role of AI and digital tools in wellness; protecting liver and kidney diseases, etc.
