Kidney Disease: Follow These Tips To Cut Your Risk

ROME, GA —March is National Kidney Month, and Georgia public health officials are encouraging residents to be more mindful about these silent soldiers working to ensure everything works seamlessly within our bodies.

"Kidneys are the unsung workhorses that never get noticed until something goes wrong with them,” said Dr. Unini Odama, health director for the Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District. “People need to know that healthy kidneys are one of the foundations for a healthy heart. Kidney health is also heart health. The number one cause of death in people with kidney disease is heart disease.”

As part of National Kidney Month, the National Kidney Foundation is rolling out a campaign designed to inform the public about the essential functions these organs perform. The foundation works to educate the public about awareness, prevention and the treatment of kidney disease for healthcare professionals, patients and their families and the tens of millions of at-risk Americans, its website states.

Odama is a nephrologist, a medical doctor who specializes in kidney care and treating diseases of the kidneys. She’s calling on all Georgians to find out if they are at risk for kidney disease and take five simple steps to care for their kidneys (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here).

"People with kidney disease usually don't have symptoms until they’ve lost most of their kidney function," Odama says. "That’s why it's so important we all understand if we are at risk for kidney disease and take steps to prevent it.”

Odama encourages residents to make kidney health as part of their everyday conversations with as much urgency as other life-threatening conditions like heart disease, cancer or diabetes.

"Ask your doctor a question, especially if you have high blood pressure or diabetes: How are my kidneys, doc?" she added.

More than 30 million Americans suffer from kidney disease. Most don’t know it because there are often no symptoms until the disease has progressed. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of kidney disease, which is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. Some of the signs and symptoms of kidney disease include:

• More tired/less energy
• Decreased appetite
• Difficulty concentrating and/or sleeping
• Swollen feet/ankles; puffiness around the eyes
• Muscle cramping, especially at night
• Dry, itchy skin
• More frequent urination; blood or bubbles in urine

Kidneys filter 200 liters of blood a day, help regulate blood pressure and direct red blood cell production. They are also prone to disease; one in three Americans is at risk for kidney disease due to diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney failure.

Kidney disease risk can be reduced by controlling blood pressure and blood sugar and avoiding excessive use of pain medications. Early detection and treatment can slow or prevent the progression of kidney disease.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, there are five ways you can protect your kidneys:

1. Get Tested! Ask your doctor for an ACR urine test or a GFR blood test annually if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, are over age 60, or have a family history of kidney failure.

2. Reduce NSAIDs. Over the counter pain medicines, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may alleviate your aches and pains, but they can harm the kidneys, especially if you already have kidney disease. Reduce your regular use of NSAIDs and never go over the recommended dosage.

3. Cut the Processed Foods. Processed foods can be significant sources of sodium, nitrates and phosphates, and have been linked to cancer, heart disease and kidney disease. Try adopting the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet to guide your healthy eating habits. Click here to learn more about the DASH diet.

4. Exercise Regularly. Your kidneys like it when you exercise. Regular exercise will keep your bones, muscles, blood vessels, heart and kidneys healthy. Getting active for at least 30 minutes a day can also help you control blood pressure and lower blood sugar, which is vital to kidney health.

5. Control Blood Pressure and Diabetes. High blood pressure and diabetes are the leading causes of kidney disease and kidney failure. Managing high blood pressure and strict control of blood sugar levels can slow the progression of kidney disease. Speak with your doctor if you are having trouble managing diabetes or high blood pressure.

Remember, if you are at risk for kidney disease, the earlier it is detected, the better your chance of slowing or stopping its progressions. If you think you are at risk or may have kidney disease, be sure to tell your doctor immediately.

For more information about kidney disease, go to https://www.kidney.org.

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