Bengaluru sees alarming rise in Kidney failure cases among youth
Bengaluru: City hospitals are reporting an increasing number of young patients with kidney failure. Doctors are linking this trend to undiagnosed hypertension, diabetes, obesity and unhealthy lifestyle habits, as reported ny Deccan Herald.
Nephrologists notes many patients arrive only in advanced stages, leaving limited treatment options. “Younger people are developing kidney issues from preventable lifestyle factors. Early signs are often silent, so they may not realise there is a problem until it is advanced,” informed Dr Nithin J, nephrologist in a report published by Deccan Herald.
Doctors have identified two primary drivers behind the condition. Lifestyle-related factors, like as consumption of processed foods, high stress levels, smoking, inadequate sleep, dehydration, and excessive protein intake and medical causes, which include undiagnosed hypertension, hidden diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and prolonged or excessive use of painkillers. “To avoid such ailments, a basic profile test every three months , including blood sugar, creatinine, potassium, sodium and blood pressure is advisable,” said Dr Chandrashekhar, nephrologist.
While 100 grams of protein a day is considered safe, prolonged intake beyond 120 grams can strain kidneys. “Excess protein causes hyper-filtration. Protein leakage in urine eventually leads to kidney failure. Excessive keto or red meat diets also damage kidneys,” said Dr Vishwanath S, HOD & Consultant, Nephrology and Transplant.
He added that early damage can often be reversed through dietary changes, while advanced cases are irreversible.
Health experts have also cautioned that certain supplements place strain on the kidneys. Protein powders can heighten the filtration load which increase the risk of leakage creatine breaks down into creatinine, which burdens the kidneys. This may conceal underlying dysfunction while steroids elevate blood pressure, disrupting hormonal balance and causing scarring of kidney tissue.
“Smoking damages blood vessels, reducing blood supply to the kidneys. Tackling lifestyle factors is key to prevention,” said Dr Gireesh MS, HOD & Consultant, Nephrology.
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Railways: FM Sitharaman allocates Rs 2.77 lakh crore for capital expenditure
New Delhi (PTI): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday allocated Rs 2,77,830 crore to the Ministry of Railways for capital expenditure in the financial year 2026–27.
The Budget allocation includes the construction of new lines and the purchase of locomotives, wagons, and coaches, among other works.
The ministry had received Rs 2,52,000 crore in FY 2025–26. The current allocation for the upcoming financial year is 10.25 per cent higher, making it the highest ever. Besides, the ministry will get Rs 15,000 crore from Extra Budgetary Resources, the document showed.
According to the Budget document, the railways’ total earnings are projected at Rs 3,85,733.33 crore, while expenditure is estimated at Rs 3,82,186.01 crore, resulting in a surplus of Rs 3,547.32 crore at the end of the financial year.
"Since the railways' earnings are too meagre to fund asset creation and support new works, it receives funds from the government. Accordingly, the ministry has been allocated Rs 2,77,830 crore to undertake activities such as laying new lines, converting narrow gauge to broad gauge, and constructing double lines on single-line routes," a railway official said.
The Budget document has earmarked funds from the Rs 2,77,830 crore allocation for various construction and asset creation projects. These include Rs 36,721.55 crore for new lines, Rs 4,600 crore for gauge conversion, Rs 37,750 crore for doubling, Rs 52,108.73 crore for rolling stock (locomotives, wagons, etc.), and Rs 7,500 crore for signalling and telecom, among others.
The allocation under the signalling and telecom head is significant as the automatic train protection system, Kavach, falls under this department. The ministry has laid strong emphasis on expanding Kavach coverage across the rail network.
The document also presents the actual earnings and expenditure of the railways in 2024–25. During the year, railways earned Rs 3,35,757.09 crore and spent Rs 3,32,440.64 crore, recording a surplus of Rs 3,316.45 crore. The budgetary allocation for the year stood at Rs 2,51,946.56 crore.
"As far as FY 2025–26 is concerned, the actual figures for earnings and expenditure will be available only after the financial year ends,” an official said, adding that largely earnings and expenses are on expected lines with minor changes.
Out of the total expenditures of the railways, the biggest share goes on paying pensions to its employees.
According to Budget documents, expenditure on pensions was Rs 58844.07 crore in 2024-25, which is expected to rise to Rs 74500 crore in 2026-27.
