Silent kidney crisis: 800 million people affected worldwide, why women over 40 must act now

Kidney disease doesn’t arrive with sirens. It doesn’t announce itself loudly. Most of the time, it slips in quietly, doing damage while life carries on as usual. And that’s exactly why experts now call it a silent global crisis. Around 800 million people worldwide are living with some form of kidney disease, many without knowing it. What’s more worrying is how sharply the risk rises for women after 40. And no, this isn’t about rare conditions or extreme lifestyles. This is about everyday women juggling work, family, stress, hormones, and health changes that often go unnoticed.

Why kidney disease stays invisible for so long

Your kidneys are polite organs. They don’t complain early. Even when they’re under strain, they keep filtering waste, balancing fluids, and regulating blood pressure without much fuss. Symptoms usually show up only after significant damage has already happened.

So you might feel tired and blame age. Or notice swelling and assume it’s hormonal. Or brush off frequent urination as “just one of those things.” Meanwhile, kidney function may be quietly declining.

That delay in symptoms is the biggest reason kidney disease is often diagnosed late, sometimes when options become limited. Why women over 40 face higher risk

After 40, a lot changes in a woman’s body. Hormones fluctuate. Blood pressure tends to creep up. Blood sugar levels may not behave the way they used to. And menopause, whether early or later, brings its own set of shifts that affect kidney health.

Women are also more likely to experience conditions like autoimmune disorders, recurrent urinary tract infections, and anemia, all of which can stress the kidneys over time. Add years of untreated high blood pressure or borderline diabetes, and the risk quietly stacks up.

And here’s the tricky part. Women often put their health second. Families come first. Work deadlines come first. Parents, children, everyone else comes first. Routine tests get postponed. Mild symptoms get ignored. That delay can cost precious time.

Female patients 40 and older experience various degrees of change related to hormonal activity (perimenopausal and postmenopausal), some of which can have an impact on their blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and vascular function, all of which contribute to how well the kidneys function. 16%, or approximately 200 million people in India, suffer from chronic renal insufficiency attributable to the increase in diabetes and hypertension diagnosed in the country. While registry data indicates that many more males have a diagnosis of chronic renal insufficiency than females, females are at increased risk due to factors such as metabolic changes, autoimmune disorders, recurrent urinary tract infections, pregnancy, complications with pregnancy, and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs over time, says Dr. Lovy Gaur,Senior Consultant- Nephrology& Renal Care, Medanta Hospital Noida.

What are the early signs of kidney issues that women often overlook?

Many women may initially overlook early signs of kidney issues as they may be mistaken for normal aging or chronic fatigue. Early warning signs include persistent feelings of fatigue, feet and/or facial swelling, frequent urination at night, unusual amounts of foam in urine, back pain, dry or itchy skin, and unexplained cases of anemia. Due to the late appearance of symptoms, many women are naturally inclined to postpone seeking medical attention until these symptoms become very apparent, Dr. Alok Kumar Jha, Senior Consultant Urology and Renal Transplant, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital Faridabad. To this Dr Gaur adds: Most patients will be oblivious to the symptoms of early kidney disease due to the silence of the disease. Individuals typically will not take action, but rather will ignore them. For example, many patients have chronic fatigue, swollen feet and faces, multiple urinations per day and/ or night-time, painful burning when urinating and/ or repeated urinary tract infections. Most will write-off these as due to getting older, experiencing stress or changes in hormones; therefore, not seek medical attention until significant damage to the kidney has taken place; nearly 60% of CKD patients in India have been diagnosed once some significant amount of the kidney is already damaged. Since the early symptoms of kidney disease can be subtle, individuals who are experiencing any of these signs or issues should consider having their kidneys tested.

Risk factors Several of the major contributors to chronic kidney disease include both uncontrolled blood pressure and high blood sugar worldwide. Several other prevalent but damaging habits are smoking, eating excessive amounts of salt, frequent use of over-the-counter medications for pain relief, and being physically inactive. The ready availability of fast foods has led to people being exposed to larger amounts of salt, corn syrup, palm oil, and other unhealthy foods. In turn, this has led to an increase in metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes; both of which are major contributors to the growing worldwide prevalence of CKD, Dr Gaur says.

Consistently exercising on a regular basis reduces blood pressure, blood sugar, and body weight, which are all important for maintaining healthy kidneys. Naturally, being physically active will result in better circulation and less inflammation as well as lower levels of stress hormones. Therefore, any form of moderate physical activity like brisk walking, yoga or swimming for instance will progressively lower ones chances of developing chronic renal failure, suggests Dr Jha.

Can supplements help?

There are no dietary supplements that have thus far shown to be effective in preventing chronic kidney disease. However, it is known that keeping adequately hydrated, eating a well-balanced diet, leading an active lifestyle, and not smoking all contribute to healthy kidneys. Furthermore, vitamins D, iron, calcium, and other minerals should only be taken for proven medical reasons. Caution should be exercised with detox products that claim to cleanse the kidneys, as these products may be unregulated and can actually cause harm to the kidneys if misused. You should always seek advice from your physician before taking any supplements, warns Dr Gaur.

While it may be possible that vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants can support kidney health (as long as you receive them under the guidance of your physician), there is likely to be greater benefit from natural methods such as consuming enough fluid, limiting salt intake and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. It’s important to remember that the use of herbal medicines should also never occur without consulting with your health care provider first, advises Dr Jha.

Healthy habits to follow

Dr Jha advises women to regularly assess their blood pressure, blood glucose levels and kidney function. “Regularly staying hydrated, eating a balanced low-salt diet, maintaining a regular exercise routine and avoiding the self-medication of painkillers are all essential for preserving kidney health long-term through ongoing positive lifestyle choices and managing risk factors. It is important to routinely assess all womens kidney health through appropriate screenings and treatment as necessary, the doctor suggests.

Focusing on annual health checkups Dr Jha says, women aged 40 and above need to have routine health assessments yearly. The health assessments should include a check of blood pressure , sugar , urine, and kidney functions (creatinine level). If a woman has previously been diagnosed with Diabetes or Hypertension, she should receive additional monitoring. Women should continue to participate in a physically active lifestyle with a low sodium diet, a reduced amount of processed foods (maximally about 45% of all food consumed), sufficient amounts of water, approximately 1 liter per day, and avoid taking excessive pain medications, unverified medications, or any remedies that may interfere with the bodys natural processes, says Dr Gaur.

What acting early actually looks like

Acting early doesn’t mean panic. It means awareness. Simple blood and urine tests can catch early kidney changes long before symptoms appear. Monitoring blood pressure and sugar isn’t optional anymore, even if you “feel fine.”

It also means rethinking daily choices. Drinking enough water. Being cautious with painkillers. Cutting back on excess salt and processed foods. Moving your body regularly, even if it’s just walking.

And maybe most importantly, listening to your body instead of brushing things off.

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