Education

Mag glass-Facts One of the objectives of our webpage is to help educate people about kidney disease, and how you can keep your own kidneys healthy. In the course of Nancy’s journey we have learned a lot that you don’t always hear from the doctors. Our kidney support group has been an excellent resource for education – both directly through speakers and material we get there, as well as learning from the personal experiences of other kidney patients who attend our group. In addition to doing what we can to help Nancy with her own kidney condition, we think it’s a good idea to share what we have learned that might help you stay healthy too.

The Education page on our website will provide information that you might find useful. It might be an article about a specific kidney-related topic, or a link to other websites that provide reliable and helpful information you would want to have. We hope you check back with our website periodically to see what’s new on our Education page. You just might find something really useful to know about. Thanks again for your ongoing interest. Nancy & David Flint

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For a good general source of information about kidney health, kidney disease, and the kidney transplantation process click here to visit the National Kidney Foundation’s website.

For information related to being a kidney donor click here

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FIVE SURPRISING WAYS YOU COULD BE DAMAGING YOUR KIDNEYS

Your kidneys work 24/7 to keep the body healthy by filtering out toxins and extra fluid and regulating blood pressure. Damage to these vital organs could be irreversible, yet so many are unaware of what might be harmful. During March, National Kidney Month, the National Kidney Foundation offers information on five surprising ways you might be damaging your kidneys:

Click here for more details. (New – 10 April 2016)

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Keep Your Kidneys Healthy

The steps you take to keep your kidneys healthy help the rest of your body too. Talk to your health care provider to find out the steps that are right for you.

If you are at risk for kidney disease, the most important steps you can take to keep your kidneys healthy are:

Get your blood and urine checked for kidney disease.
Manage your diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Click here for more information. (New – 10 April 2016)

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KIDNEY DISEASE IN AFRICAN AMERICANS GOES UNDETECTED UNTIL THE LATEST STAGES

Good cholesterol, bad cholesterol and blood sugar levels are familiar to most African Americans at risk, but kidney disease is off the radar screen, a new study reports. The rate of kidney failure for African Americans is three times higher than among Caucasians and one reason for this is that they are not aware when they have earlier stages of kidney disease, at a time treatment could prevent the damage from progressing to the point when dialysis or kidney transplant is necessary. The problem appears to be specific for kidney disease, since most African Americans who had diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol levels knew so.

Click here to see more information. (New – 10 April 2016)

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10 SIGNS YOU MAY HAVE KIDNEY DISEASE

(New – 8 April 2016)

10 Signs photo

More than 26 million American adults are living with kidney disease and most don’t know it. “There are a number of physical signs of kidney disease, but sometimes people attribute them to other conditions. Also, those with kidney disease tend not to experience symptoms until the very late stages, when the kidneys are failing or when there are large amounts of protein in the urine. This is one of the reasons why only 10% of people with chronic kidney disease know that they have it,” says Dr. Joseph Vassalotti, Chief Medical Officer at the National Kidney Foundation.

While the only way to know for sure if you have kidney disease is to get tested, Dr. Vassalotti shares 10 possible signs you may have kidney disease. If you’re at risk for kidney disease due to high blood pressure, diabetes, a family history of kidney failure or if you’re older than age 60, it’s important to get tested annually for kidney disease. Be sure to mention any symptoms you’re experiencing to your healthcare practitioner.

You’re more tired, have less energy or are having trouble concentrating.A severe decrease in kidney function can lead to a buildup of toxins and impurities in the blood. This can cause people to feel tired, weak and can make it hard to concentrate. Another complication of kidney disease is anemia, which can cause weakness and fatigue.
You’re having trouble sleeping.When the kidneys aren’t filtering properly, toxins stay in the blood rather than leaving the body through the urine. This can make it difficult to sleep. There is also a link between obesity and chronic kidney disease, and sleep apnea is more common in those with chronic kidney disease, compared with the general population.
You have dry and itchy skin. Healthy kidneys do many important jobs. They remove wastes and extra fluid from your body, help make red blood cells, help keep bones strong and work to maintain the right amount of minerals in your blood.Dry and itchy skin can be a sign of the mineral and bone disease that often accompanies advanced kidney disease, when the kidneys are no longer able to keep the right balance of minerals and nutrients in your blood.
You feel the need to urinate more often. If you feel the need to urinate more often, especially at night, this can be a sign of kidney disease. When the kidneys filters are damaged, it can cause an increase in the urge to urinate. Sometimes this can also be a sign of a urinary infection or enlarged prostate in men.
You see blood in your urine.Healthy kidneys typically keep the blood cells in the body when filtering wastes from the blood to create urine, but when the kidney’s filters have been damaged, these blood cells can start to “leak” out into the urine. In addition to signaling kidney disease, blood in the urine can be indicative of tumors, kidney stones or an infection.
Your urine is foamy.Excessive bubbles in the urine – especially those that require you to flush several times before they go away—indicate protein in the urine. This foam may look like the foam you see when scrambling eggs, as the common protein found in urine, albumin, is the same protein that is found in eggs.
You’re experiencing persistent puffiness around your eyes.Protein in the urine is an early sign that the kidneys’ filters have been damaged, allowing protein to leak into the urine. This puffiness around your eyes can be due to the fact that your kidneys are leaking a large amount of protein in the urine, rather than keeping it in the body.
Your ankles and feet are swollen.Decreased kidney function can lead to sodium retention, causing swelling in your feet and ankles. Swelling in the lower extremities can also be a sign of heart disease, liver disease and chronic leg vein problems.
You have a poor appetite. This is a very general symptom, but a buildup of toxins resulting from reduced kidney function can be one of the causes.
Your muscles are cramping.Electrolyte imbalances can result from impaired kidney function. For example, low calcium levels and poorly controlled phosphorus may contribute to muscle cramping.

To view the full article on the National Kidney Foundation’s website, click here.

To view similar information from the renowned Mayo Clinic, click here

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YOUR KIDNEYS: DO YOU KNOW THESE FACTS?

Kidneys are important because they:

Filter blood
Keep the right amount of fluids in the body
Help make red blood cells
Help keep blood pressure under control

Risk factors for kidney disease include:

Diabetes
High blood pressure
Being 60 years or older
Having a family member with kidney disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure
Being African American/Black, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, American Indian, or Alaska Native

Over time, kidney disease can:

Get worse
Lead to kidney failure
Cause heart and blood vessel disease
Cause other health problems

People with risk factors should get tested regularly because:

In the early stages of kidney disease, most people don’t have symptoms
Kidney disease can be treated

Tests to find kidney disease include:

A simple urine test called ACR (albumin-to-creatinine ratio). Having protein in the urine is a sign of kidney disease.
A simple blood test to estimate your GFR (glomerular filtration rate). GFR is the best way to tell how well your kidneys are working.

Some ways to protect kidneys are:

Keep blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control
Lose weight, if needed
Eat healthy meals
Take all medicines as prescribed
Get regular exercise
Don’t smoke
Limit alcohol
Avoid some over-the-counter medicines (such as aspirin, naxoproxin, or ibuprofen) because they can harm kidneys

National Kidney Foundation: https://www.kidney.org/prevention/your-kidneys-do-you-know-these-facts

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WHICH DRUGS ARE HARMFUL TO YOUR KIDNEYS?

Every drug you put into your body passes through your kidneys. If the drug is not taken following your healthcare provider’s instructions, or if it is an illegal substance, it can cause injury to the kidneys.

Pain Medications

Your kidneys could be damaged if you take large amounts of over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen. None of these medicines should be taken daily or regularly without first talking to your healthcare provider. Thousands of Americans have damaged their kidneys by using these medicines regularly for too long. To learn more about pain medications and your kidneys click here.

Alcohol

Heavy drinking can hurt both your kidneys and your liver. Alcoholics have a high risk of developing both kidney and liver failure. To learn more about alcohol and your kidneys click here.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics can also be dangerous if they are not taken correctly. People with kidney disease need to take a smaller amount of antibiotics than people with healthy kidneys. Take only medicines ordered for you by your healthcare provider.

Prescription Laxatives

In general, over-the-counter laxatives are safe for most people. However, some prescription laxatives that are used for cleaning the bowel (usually before a colonoscopy) can be harmful to the kidneys. To learn more click here.

Contrast Dye (used in some diagnostic tests such as MRIs)

Some medical tests called “imaging tests” contain a type of dye called “contrast dye.” Examples of imaging tests are MRIs and CT-scans. Contrast dyes can be harmful to people who have kidney disease. Not all imaging tests contain contrast dyes. To learn more about contrast dye click here.

Illegal Drugs

Most street drugs, including heroin, cocaine and ecstasy can cause high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure and even death, in some cases from only one use. Cocaine, heroin and amphetamines also can cause kidney damage.

What should you do?

Do not take any medicine, drug or substance unless you are under a healthcare provider’s supervision.
Do not take pills or substances given to you by a stranger or even a friend.
If you do take a medication or other substance and feel ill, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
If you need to have an imaging test or colonoscopy, let your healthcare provider know if you have kidney disease or are at risk for getting it.

National Kidney Foundation: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/Drugs-Your-Kidneys

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MYTHS ABOUT LIVING DONATION

By Ilana Silver Levine, LMSW and Marian Charlton, RN, CCTC

The purpose of kidney transplantation is to give a healthy kidney to a person who has kidney disease. A successful kidney transplant may prevent the need for dialysis and the complications associated with kidney failure. For many years, the kidney that was transplanted had to come from a person who had died, from a “deceased donor.” But there are not enough deceased donors for the number of people who need kidney transplants. Although living donor kidney transplantation is more common, there are still many myths associated with living donor kidney transplantation.

Myth #1: A kidney donor will have to take medications for the rest of their life

Fact #1: A kidney donor will be given prescriptions for pain medication and stool softeners at discharge from the hospital. These are only for the immediate post-operative period, after that time, a donor does not have to take medication.

Myth #2: A kidney donor will have debilitating pain for an extended period of time.

Fact #2: A kidney donor will have some pain after surgery from both the incisions and related to gas and bloating. This pain will diminish in the days following surgery and can be controlled with pain medication if necessary.

Myth #3: A kidney donor will be on bed rest following surgery.

Fact #3: A kidney donor will be out of bed and walking independently before discharge from the hospital.

Myth #4: A kidney donor will be in the hospital for an extended period of time after surgery.

Fact #4: A kidney donor will be hospitalized for two nights (i.e. if surgery is on a Tuesday, the donor will typically be discharged on Thursday).

Myth #5: A kidney donor can no longer participate in sports or exercise.

Fact #5: A kidney donor should be able to return to regular activities and exercise at approximately 4-6 weeks following surgery.

Myth #6: A kidney donor will have to follow a new diet plan following donation.

Fact #6: A kidney donor should eat a healthy, well balanced diet. There are no dietary restrictions following donation.

Myth #7: A kidney donor can no longer consume alcohol following donation.

Fact #7: While excessive alcohol use is always dangerous, a kidney donor can consume alcohol in moderation.

Myth #8: A female kidney donor should not get pregnant after donation.

Fact #8: A female kidney donor should wait 3-6 months’ time after donation to become pregnant. The body requires time to recover from the surgery and to adjust to living with one kidney prior to pregnancy.

Myth #9: A kidney donor’s sex life will be negatively affected by donation.

Fact #9: A kidney donor may engage in sexual activity when they feel well enough to do so.

Excerpted from the National Kidney Registry: http://www.kidneyregistry.org/living_donors.php#overview March 18, 2016

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