Know Your Kidneys

How to prevent and manage kidney disease

(Family Features) You may not think much about your kidneys unless there’s a problem, but they play a vital role in your health.

Your kidneys continually filter your blood to remove extra fluid and waste, which is released from the body as urine. They also help control blood pressure and keep bones healthy. Consider this information from Know Your Kidneys, an education campaign from the American Kidney Fund, Boehringer Ingelheim and Otsuka, to understand how your kidneys work, how to protect them and help prevent kidney disease, which has no cure.

What is kidney disease?
Kidney disease means your kidneys are permanently damaged and do not work as they should. This lets extra fluid and waste flow back into your bloodstream instead of leaving your body as urine.

An estimated 37 million Americans are living with kidney disease, and 1 in 3 adults is at risk for the disease, according to the American Kidney Fund. Kidney disease typically does not have any symptoms until the late stages, so most people do not know they have it.

Who is at risk?
Kidney disease doesn’t discriminate; people of all backgrounds get it. However, multiple barriers contribute to inequity in kidney care, including systemic racial and ethnic biases, language and cultural differences, and where a person lives. These barriers make it more likely for certain people’s kidney disease to progress to kidney failure – the last stage of kidney disease. For example, Black Americans make up just 13% of the population, but they are 3.4 times more likely than white Americans to progress to kidney failure.

Other risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, hereditary causes or having a family history of the disease, being over the age of 60, obesity, and smoking. Talking with your doctor about these risk factors is an important step toward managing your kidney health. Being tested for kidney disease if you are at risk can help detect early problems.

What are the symptoms?
In the later stages of kidney disease, you may have symptoms like foot swelling, nausea, and fatigue. Other potential symptoms include itching, muscle cramps, changes in urine output, loss of appetite, trouble catching your breath, and problems sleeping.

Regular blood and urine tests can help monitor your kidney health. Ask your doctor to check your kidney function, and if the tests reveal concerns, work together to create a plan.

What are the treatment options?
There is no cure for kidney disease, but you can take actions and medicines to manage your condition and possibly help prevent the disease from progressing to kidney failure. Depending on the specific cause of your kidney problems, your doctor may suggest controlling your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol; eating healthy; quitting smoking, being more physically active, and maintaining a healthy weight. Medicines can also help control kidney disease for people with diabetes.

If kidney disease progresses to kidney failure, dialysis or a kidney transplant is required to survive.

How to advocate for kidney health
Dawn Edwards was just 23 when she developed kidney failure, reinforcing that kidney disease can affect anyone at any age. While Edwards juggles life with dialysis, she also regularly talks to newly diagnosed and high-risk patients.

“My advice is to learn as much as you can and have honest, frank discussions with your doctor,” Edwards said. “Learn about your treatment options, including the side effects of medications, and lifestyle changes that can manage your diabetes and high blood pressure and ultimately slow or stop the progression of kidney disease.”

For more information, visit KidneyFund.org/KnowYourKidneys.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images
 

SOURCE:
American Kidney Fund

Debunking Common Misconceptions About Gout

(Family Features) When many people think of gout, they often picture swelling and pain in the big toe. However, gout – an extremely painful form of inflammatory arthritis – can occur in any joint when high levels of uric acid in the blood lead to the formation of urate crystals.

If your body creates too much uric acid or cannot clear uric acid properly, you may experience sudden and sometimes severe gout attacks, called flare-ups, that include pain, swelling, or redness in your joints. The condition can disrupt many aspects of daily living, including work and leisure or family activities.

“I was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2009 and it wasn’t too long after that I started dealing with gout issues,” said registered nurse Theresa Caldron. “Gout affects your quality of life in a lot of different ways. You’re going through days of pain and no one knows it because you don’t look sick.”

Because the kidneys filter and release uric acid, people with kidney disease are more likely to experience a buildup of urate crystals and, therefore, gout. In fact, 1 out of 10 people with chronic kidney disease have gout, and an even higher percentage of people with gout have kidney disease.

To help debunk some myths around the condition, the American Kidney Fund, in partnership with Horizon Therapeutics, created the “Goutful” education campaign, which aims to educate and empower patients with gout to help them live easier and prevent further health complications, especially relating to their kidneys. Consider these common myths:

Myth: Gout is rare.
Gout is a relatively common condition. More than 8 million Americans have gout, and it is the most common form of arthritis in men over 40.

Myth: Gout is a man’s disease.
Anyone can get gout, but it’s more common in men than women. Though men are 10 times more likely to develop gout, rates of gout even out after age 60 since gout tends to develop for women after menopause.

Myth: Only people who are obese get gout.
People of all sizes can develop gout. Though people who are obese are at higher risk, gout is more common in people who have other health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or kidney disease. Others more at-risk for gout are males 30-50 years old, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Black people, people with a family history of gout, people with organ transplants, and people exposed to lead.

Myth: Gout eventually goes away on its own.
Symptoms of gout attacks often go away within a few days, but that doesn’t mean gout is gone. Even if you don’t feel symptoms, urate crystals can build up beneath the surface, which can cause long-term health problems like joint and kidney damage.

Myth: There are things you can eat to prevent or cure gout.
Certain foods may help decrease the level of uric acid in your body, but diet alone is not a cure for gout. People with gout who follow healthy diets may still need medicine to prevent flare-ups and lower uric acid levels. Alcohol and foods rich in purines, especially red meat and seafood, should be avoided if you are prone to gout.

If you think you might have gout, talk with your doctor or a gout specialist about your symptoms. Visit kidneyfund.org/gout to learn more about gout and kidney disease.

 

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

 

SOURCE:
American Kidney Fund

Managing Complications of Lupus

 

(Family Features) Many people may recognize the term “lupus” and think of it as an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain and swelling, but you may not be aware lupus impacts an estimated 1.5 million Americans and can affect many parts of the body.

The disease that causes the immune system to attack its own tissues mainly impacts women, who make up 9 out of 10 lupus patients. Genetics also play a role in lupus; if you have a family member with lupus or another autoimmune disease, you are at greater risk.

Some racial and ethnic groups are also at elevated risk, including those of Black, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, and Pacific Islander heritage. Additionally, Black, Hispanic/Latino and Asian American lupus patients are more likely to develop complications, including kidney damage, also known as lupus nephritis, and these patients tend to have worse outcomes than white patients.

Lupus nephritis – kidney swelling and irritation caused by lupus – affects up to 60% of patients with lupus, according to the American Kidney Fund. It can cause permanent kidney damage, called chronic kidney disease, which can affect your quality of life. People with lupus nephritis also have a higher chance of heart problems, blood vessel problems, and developing certain types of cancer.

Symptoms of lupus nephritis include weight gain, fatigue, joint pain or swelling, muscle pain, fever, high blood pressure, and frequent urination. Because some of the symptoms of lupus nephritis can also look like symptoms of other diseases, it’s important for lupus patients to talk to their doctors about testing their kidney function regularly. Testing your kidney function involves a urine test to look for protein and a blood test to check for waste products in your blood.

If you are diagnosed with lupus nephritis, it is important you see a kidney doctor, called a nephrologist. Treatment for lupus nephritis focuses on preventing additional kidney damage. It’s also important to recognize lupus nephritis can impact your mental health, too. These tips from the American Kidney Fund can help you navigate your care and cope with lupus nephritis:

• Ensure your kidney function is tested regularly and you are referred to a nephrologist.
• Keep records of your symptoms, tests, and test results so you can share them with your doctors in detail.
• Consider medication to lower your blood pressure, if directed by your health care provider, which can help lower the amount protein in your urine.
• Write down questions you have for your doctor and bring them to your next visit.
• Take notes on what your doctor says during your visits.
• Find healthy ways to cope, such as meditating, journaling, or exercising.
• Take a diuretic, or water pill, if directed by your health care provider, to help rid your body of extra fluid, which can raise your blood pressure and cause strain on your heart.
• Talk to a professional, such as a mental health therapist, counselor, or social worker, to help understand and process emotions, improve coping skills and advocate for your needs.
• Join a support group to connect with others who have similar experiences.
• Ask your doctor for handouts or suggestions for where you can go for more information.
• Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion if you feel your doctor is not taking your concerns seriously.

To learn more and find resources to help cope with lupus nephritis, visit KidneyFund.org/lupus.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images
SOURCE:
American Kidney Fund