Everything You Need to Know About Kidney Disease
March is National Kidney Month, a time dedicated to community education surrounding kidney disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kidney disease impacts some 1 in 7 Americans and a total of 35.5 million people nationwide. Research shows chronic kidney disease kills more people each year than breast cancer or prostate cancer and can put one at risk for heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. Yet, some 90% don’t even know they have it. That’s why health awareness months like National Kidney Month are so important.
Bear Valley Community Healthcare District is pleased to offer the kidney care services of Dr. Prashanth Kumar, a board-certified nephrologist. For those of you who have not yet been touched by kidney disease, we’ve put together some information regarding risk factors, warning signs and ways to avoid kidney disease as you age.
Know the Risk Factors
According to the CDC, there are five main risk factors for kidney disease. They include:
- Diabetes: Some 1 in 3 adults with diabetes also has chronic kidney disease. Why? High blood sugar caused by diabetes can damage blood vessels in the kidneys, causing them to work improperly.
- High blood pressure: 20% of adults with high blood pressure also have chronic kidney disease. High blood pressure can cause blood vessels to narrow, which reduces blood flow. As time progresses, those blood vessels can weaken throughout the body, including in the kidneys. When this type of damage occurs, the kidneys may no longer remove all of the waste and fluid they need to. In turn, this can actually cause blood pressure to rise even higher.
- Heart disease: Adults who have heart failure are at a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease due to reduced blood flow to the kidneys.
Bear Valley Community Healthcare District offers emergency dialysis service in its Emergency Department 24/7 for those unable to access their usual treatment off the mountain.
Learn more! BVCHD Nephrologist Dr. Kumar is available to answer your questions about emergency dialysis on the last Wednesday of every month at 12 p.m. in the hospital conference room.
4. Family history: Chronic kidney disease may be genetic. If you have a close relative who has chronic kidney disease, you may be more likely to develop it.
5. Obesity: Carrying excess weight increases one’s risk for both high blood pressure and diabetes, which are the two largest risk factors for chronic kidney disease.
Warning Signs of Kidney Disease
Unfortunately, kidney disease is considered a “silent” disease in that many people do not realize they have it until it has already entered an advanced stage. While high blood pressure or changes in the color of one’s urine can be warning signs, they aren’t always clear. For the most part, the only way to accurately identify chronic kidney disease in the early stages is through lab testing. Common tests include eGFR (a blood test that indicates how well waste is being filtered through the kidneys) and uACR (a urine test that measures how much protein is leaking into one’s urine).
Prevention is Key
As with any disease, the best way to avoid complications is to avoid developing the condition altogether. The National Kidney Foundation recommends the following methods of prevention:
Don’t skip your annual physical. Your doctor can easily check for early developing kidney disease with the two lab tests noted above.
Manage your blood pressure. High blood pressure increases your chance of developing kidney disease. Taking the proper medication to reduce your blood pressure, as well as making lifestyle changes like cutting down on salt and alcoholic beverages, can help keep this risk factor in check.
Manage your blood sugar: Diabetes is one of the largest risk factors for chronic kidney disease, so managing high blood sugar levels is incredibly important. Be careful with your diet, stay active and take the proper medication to keep your blood sugars in check.
Eat clean. The Mediterranean Diet and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet can help keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check. Both of these diets include eating fresh fruits and veggies, lower-fat milk products, fish and poultry, and a mix of beans, seeds and nuts. The diet is low in red meat, fat, sugar and sodium.
Stay active: Exercise helps keep your heart strong and your weight at a healthy level. It can also increase strength and endurance levels, both of which can increase your overall longevity. Walking, biking, hiking, and skiing are all great ways to enjoy the mountain air while staying healthy here in Big Bear. There are also numerous gyms here in town, including 7K Crossfit, Bodytek, Iron Culture, and the High Altitude Training Center, that offer guided workouts for those who prefer to workout indoors or in a group setting.
Don’t smoke. Smoking doesn’t just impact the lungs. It can increase disease in every part of the body, including your kidneys.
Refrain from overusing pain medication: Pain medication like NSAIDS, especially when used over long periods and at high doses, can reduce blood flow to the kidneys and harm kidney tissue. Your doctor may recommend switching from medications like ibuprofen to acetaminophen to keep your kidneys from being damaged.
If you are concerned that you are at risk for kidney disease, make an appointment with BVCHD Nephrologist Dr. Kumar. Call (909) 878-8246 now.