Did you know that 1 in 3 American adults are at a high risk for developing kidney disease? National Kidney Month is celebrated annually during the month of March. The objective is to inform and educate people about kidney disease. The National Kidney Foundation urges all Americans to give their kidneys a second thought and get a well-deserved checkup.
Ways Your Kidneys Keep You Healthy:
- Filters wastes from the blood
- Regulates blood pressure
- Regulates fluid levels
- Activates Vitamin D for healthy bones
- Directs production of red blood cells
- Keeps blood minerals in balance
Risk Factors for Unhealthy Kidneys:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Age 60+
- Family history
Symptoms of Decreased Kidney Function:
- Swelling of the face, hands, abdomen, ankles, and feet
- Blood in urine or foamy urine
- Puffy eyes
- Difficult or painful urination
- Increased thirst
- Fatigue
What You Can Do:
- Get Tested!
- Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFP): tells how well your kidneys are working to remove wastes
- Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio: estimates the amount of albumin, or protein, that you excrete in your urine (in patients without kidney disease, there is no protein in the urine)
- Reduce regular non-steroidal anti-inflamatory (NSAID) use such as Advil®, Aleve®, Motrin®, ibuprofen, or naproxen
- Cut out processed foods
- Exercise regularly
- Control blood pressure and diabetes
For more information, please visit:
https://www.kidney.org/content/national-kidney-month
By: Dylan Blumberg, 2018 PharmD candidate