March is National Kidney Month

Joyce F. Jackson, Northwest Kidney Centers

It could be someone at your dinner party. Perhaps it's the man in your vanpool. It could be you. Any of these individuals could be the one in seven American adults who has kidney disease. If you are over age 60, you are in a high-risk group.

Northwest Kidney Centers dialysis patient Irene Rotella ___________________________

The bad news is that most don't know it. The good news is that something can be done. In most cases kidney disease is preventable—and its progression can be halted.

Nonetheless, the incidence among American adults has increased 30 percent in the past 10 years. Kidney disease is more than a personal health issue. It's a public health issue, too. Thirty percent of the country’s Medicare budget is spent treating kidney disease; 7 percent is spent on dialysis treatment. This means a significant portion of your public health care dollars are being spent on a disease that in many cases can be prevented.

March is National Kidney Month, and March 12 is celebrated globally as World Kidney Day—a time to consider lifestyle changes that will help you prevent kidney disease—and a time to get tested if you fall into one of the high-risk groups.

Victorino Dumo and his wife Claudia at the dialysis center ______________

Here's how you can improve your life to avoid kidney disease:

• Treat high blood pressure and diabetes, two of the leading causes of kidney failure.
• Don't smoke.
• Eat a low-salt, low-fat diet. Obesity can lead to kidney disease.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
• Don't overuse pain relievers such as ibuprofen and naproxen, which can damage kidneys.

Some 695,000 Washingtonians have the disease. In Seattle 41,600 have kidney disease, which often has no symptoms until very late in the disease. But you don’t have to sit by and wonder if you’re a victim of this potential killer. Your doctor can run three simple tests to assess your risk:

• Check your blood pressure
• Test for protein in the urine
• Test your blood for creatinine

Ask your doctor for these tests, especially if you are in a high-risk group, which includes African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, people over age 60, and those with high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney disease. Early detection and treatment can help prevent the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure, which leads to dialysis treatment. Sadly, the only way off dialysis is a kidney transplant or death. Right now more than 83,000 Americans are awaiting a kidney transplant and the number grows each year. In Washington state, 1,238 patients are awaiting a kidney transplant.

If you have kidney disease, ask your doctor for medications to keep it from getting worse.

Each year kidney disease strikes more seniors, leading them to rely on dialysis, to seek a kidney transplant, or face a premature death. But this killer can be prevented. You are in control. You can help prevent this disease—and enjoy a healthier lifestyle along the way.

Joyce F. Jackson is president and chief executive officer of Northwest Kidney Centers, promoting the health, quality of life and independence of people with kidney disease through patient care, education and research. Learn more at www.nwkidney.org.  

Photos: Kim Zumwalt