World Kidney Day 2025: All You Need To Know About Deadly Disease CKD - Symptoms, Risks, And Prevention Tips

World Kidney Day 2025: One major public health concern that has been rapidly growing is the increasing rate of death due to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), which ranks as the 9th leading cause of death among noncommunicable diseases worldwide by the World Health Organization (WHO).

To raise awareness about kidney health, March 13 is annually observed as World Kidney Day, with the 2025 theme being “Are Your Kidneys OK? – Detect Early, Protect Kidney Health."

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What are the common symptoms of kidney disease?

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people in the early stages of kidney disease are typically asymptomatic. It is only when the disease progresses to an advanced stage that symptoms begin to appear. These may include:

• Feeling of nausea
• Vomiting
• Eating disorder
• Fatigue and weakness
• Insomnia
• Reduced urine output
• Unable to stay focused
• Muscle cramps
• Swelling of feet and ankles
• Persistent itching
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• High blood pressure

Who is at risk of kidney disease?

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects 195 million women worldwide, making it more common among women, as per the World Kidney Day (WKD) organization. The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) highlights that individuals with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, those over the age of 60, and those with a family history of CKD or a personal history of acute kidney injury (AKI) are at higher risk. Additionally, people who smoke or use tobacco products are also more likely to develop CKD.

How to prevent kidney disease?

Regardless of whether you're at risk for kidney disease or are simply taking steps to prevent it, here are some golden rules from the NKF:

• Ensure regular check-ups
• Maintain healthy blood pressure, as high blood pressure can damage your kidneys
• Keep your blood sugar levels in check
• Exercise regularly
• Eat a healthy diet
• Quit smoking
• Avoid overusing painkillers