Latest news with #DepartmentofNephrology
News18
24-05-2025
- Health
- News18
A Yoga Module To Improve Quality Of Life In Kidney Patients
Last Updated: The Yoga protocol was part of a research study conducted at AIIMS Raipur --- a collaboration between its Department of Nephrology and Department of Yoga & Naturopathy Weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and reduced mobility are some of the challenges faced by chronic kidney disease (CKD) sufferers as they undergo Peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). CAPD is a treatment for kidney failure that uses the peritoneal membrane—a membrane covering the abdominal organs—to filter waste from the blood. Because the disease is chronic and its treatment demanding, patients often experience symptom-distress, depression, and fear. Many patients become dependent on the family for care and there is also financial strain. If not addressed, these stress factors can hasten disease progression. Yoga has shown that it can help improve the quality of life in these patients. This was the conclusion of a recent research study conducted as a collaborative effort between the Department of Nephrology and the Department of Yoga and Naturopathy at AIIMS Raipur, and published in the Indian Journal of Nephrology*. Quality of Life improvements were shown both quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative improvements were measured by KDQoL scores. Qualitative insights came from interviews with patients both pre- and post- Yoga. These show that Yoga intervention had not just improved their physical health, but also given them mental relaxation and emotional positivity. WHAT PATIENTS SAID 'It's been three months now and I do Yoga regularly. I used to have stomach-related issues, which have improved. I did not have much stamina earlier, now I can feel a difference. Body pain has reduced a bit. By continuing doing Yoga there is also relief in pain in the chest that I felt sometimes, and also some breathing difficulties," said a 40-year-old patient, who has been on CAPD for seven months. Another 71-year-old patient on CAPD for 12 months reported: 'After doing Yoganidra, when I get up, my mind is fresh, I feel good." 'Earlier, I used to be very negative, would get angry a lot; now I'm a bit normal. Yoga makes a lot of difference," said a 62-year-old diabetic male patient on CAPD for six months. CAPD patients need to avoid postures that increase intra-abdominal pressure. So, considering their unique physiology, a protocol was developed by Yoga experts at the Institute. The patients were put on it for three months. It was found that gentle Yoga was well-suited to these patients. Not only was it well tolerated—there was no hospitalisation, leak, or catheter malfunction—but also the response was positive. The 35-minute yoga module for patients on CAPD: • Loosening exercises or Sookshma Vyayam for 10 minutes — includes neck movements, shoulder movements, elbow, hip, knee, wrist, ankle, and finger movements. • Two Yoga poses — Tadasana (Palm Tree pose) and Setubandhasana (Bridge pose) — which take up three minutes. • Breathing practices — three pranayamas done over 10 minutes. 1. Breath awareness: This 'sectional breathing', which has three parts, is done sitting comfortably on a chair. Part One is abdominal breathing, where you place your right hand over your stomach and breathe in slowly, feeling your stomach expand. In Part Two, which is chest breathing, place your left hand over your chest and, keeping your abdomen steady, breathe in and feel your chest expand. For Part Three, Clavicular breathing, expand the topmost part of your lungs, keeping your abdomen and chest steady; feel the subtle lift and downward movement in your shoulders as you breathe in and breathe out. 2. NadiShodhan pranayama or Alternate Nostril breathing (Anulom-Vilom). 3. Bhramari pranayama or the Bee breath, done in a low pitch. • Savasana for Conscious Relaxation. Alternatively, an audio-guided relaxation technique or the Deep Relaxation Technique can be practised, for a period of 12 minutes. For the study, this module was followed three days a week, for three months. The Yoga sessions were held either online or offline for two weeks, followed by telephonic follow-ups. WHY IS THIS STUDY SIGNIFICANT? First, though the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis's new guidelines mandate physical activity and exercise for CKD patients — yet, CAPD patients hesitate to exercise. This is because of fear of damage to the catheter, leaks, and increased intra-abdominal pressure. They are also unsure what exercise would be suitable. This Yoga module gave them a customised and gentle Yoga programme for their condition. Second, till now, while several studies had been done on patients on haemodialysis (HD) for the effect of yoga, patients on CAPD had not received much attention. This is because their treatment is usually done at home and so they tend to be socially and physically isolated. This study filled a gap for evidence in this area. Third, integrating qualitative and quantitative data in the study gave a wider and deeper understanding of the impact of Yoga on patients on CAPD. Fourth, the authors concluded that online sessions by trained Yoga therapists can be a good alternative for patients on CAPD. (Please note: This article is meant for the purpose of information only. Check with your healthcare provider before starting Yoga practice. Always learn Yoga from a trained and experienced teacher or therapist.) top videos View all *Rathore V, Pai V, Keshri VR, Verma M, Nirwan M, Rathore M. Feasibility and Effect of Yoga on the Quality of Life of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease on Peritoneal Dialysis. Indian J Nephrol. doi: 10.25259/IJN_796_2024 The author is a journalist, cancer survivor and certified yoga teacher. She can be reached at swatikamal@ tags : AIIMS Raipur kidneys Pranayama yoga yogmantra Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 24, 2025, 08:13 IST News lifestyle YogMantra | A Yoga Module To Improve Quality Of Life In Kidney Patients
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
AIIMS Raipur study finds yoga boosts quality of life for kidney patients
RAIPUR: A research study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Raipur has shown that a customised yoga intervention can significantly enhance the quality of life (QoL) for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD). The study was a collaboration between the Department of Nephrology and the Department of Yoga and Naturopathy at AIIMS Raipur . Published in the Indian Journal of Nephrology, this research highlights the role of yoga in reducing the physical, mental, and emotional difficulties faced by CKD patients. Dr. Vinay Rathore, Assistant Professor, Department of Nephrology, stated that despite receiving good quality dialysis treatment at AIIMS Raipur, CAPD patients often experience isolation, fatigue, and depression due to restricted mobility and social interaction. He added that they needed additional care to improve their mental and emotional well-being. Dr. Vikram Pai, Medical Officer, Yoga and Naturopathy, said that the study indicates that gentle, home-friendly yoga can be a cost-effective and holistic supplementary therapy to improve the daily lives of CKD patients. He also mentioned that further studies are being conducted on CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis and those not on dialysis. The Executive Director of AIIMS Raipur, Lt. Gen Ashok Jindal (retd), emphasised the institute's commitment to integrating evidence-based conventional medicine with traditional wellness therapies like yoga. He stated that this integration aims to enhance patient care and advanced holistic healthcare services at AIIMS Raipur.
The Star
28-04-2025
- Health
- The Star
Feature: Kidney patients in Gaza struggle to get treatment as health system gutted by war
GAZA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- On a rusty hospital bed in Gaza City, Issa Abu Laban was enduring a shortened dialysis session with outdated machines and dwindling medication. "My body can't clear its toxins," the 53-year-old said. "I feel death surrounding me." Abu Laban is one of hundreds of kidney patients in Gaza now facing life-threatening complications. Gaza's fragile health system -- already weakened by years of blockade -- has been pushed to the brink since the conflict erupted on Oct. 7, 2023. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with staff being exhausted and essential supplies critically scarce. The crisis has deepened after humanitarian aid and medicine were prevented from entering the enclave on March 2, when the first phase of a ceasefire expired. Two weeks later, on March 18, renewed Israeli military operations triggered fresh mass displacement, putting further strain on the few hospitals still functioning. "Because of the Israeli blockade and war, none of the food, water, or other humanitarian aid is entering Gaza," Abu Mohammed Ajour, a 62-year-old kidney patient, told Xinhua. Now living in a temporary shelter, Ajour often goes without clean drinking water. "Bottled water is so expensive. I cannot afford it," he said. "But without clean water, my condition gets worse. It is not just the war that is killing us. It is thirst, poverty, and neglect," he said. Children are especially vulnerable in this health crisis. Seven-year-old Yousef al-Rantisi, pale and visibly exhausted, clutched a soft toy as he was undergoing dialysis. "I feel weak and cold. I just want the pain to stop," he whispered. Al-Rantisi's family, displaced from northern Gaza, now lives in a shelter in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood north of Gaza City. With limited income, accessing hospital care is a weekly ordeal. "Transportation costs 30 U.S. dollars, which we couldn't afford," his father, Mahmoud al-Rantisi, told Xinhua. "Sometimes I carry him in a wheelchair and walk for two hours to get here. But there are days when we cannot make it, and his condition worsens." "For all renal patients, survival has become a daily calculation between food, water, and medicine, something always has to be sacrificed. And with each passing day, the choices grow more impossible," Ghazi al-Yazji, a local nephrologist at Al-Shifa Hospital, told Xinhua. Munir Al-Bursh, director general of the health authorities in Gaza, warned that the lives of dozens of patients are under threat due to a severe lack of dialysis machines and critical medical supplies. "The health disaster facing kidney patients is worsening daily," he said. "The continued blockade and ban on the entry of life-saving medications have severely impacted both regular and chronic kidney patients." Abdullah al-Qishawi, head of the Department of Nephrology at Al-Shifa Hospital, said about 1,100 patients with kidney disease received dialysis treatment before the conflict. Out of them, around 416 have died since the outbreak of the war, mainly due to a lack of proper treatment.
