Fresenius Medical Care Supports World Kidney Day by Raising Awareness of Kidney Disease and the Need for Regular Screenings
March 12 2015 - 2:44PM
Business Wire
Early Detection and Treatment of Chronic Kidney
Disease can Prevent or Delay this Life-Threatening Condition from
Progressing to Kidney Failure
In support of World Kidney Day today, and throughout National
Kidney Month in March, Fresenius Medical Care is raising awareness
of the importance of kidney health by encouraging the public to
learn about chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as the risk
factors that can lead to CKD, and consider getting screened for the
disease.
Over 26 million people in the U.S. are believed to have CKD, a
progressive, sometimes permanent, loss of kidney function that can
take place over a period of months or years. Many people don’t
realize they have CKD, however, because they may feel well and not
have any symptoms. When CKD is very advanced some symptoms may
develop including swelling, shortness of breath, decreased
appetite, and nausea, but by that time it is usually too late to
begin treatments to slow its progression.
Diabetes is the leading cause of CKD in the U.S., and almost
one-half of patients who start dialysis have kidney disease caused
by diabetes. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is
also a leading cause of CKD.
CKD is diagnosed with blood and urine tests that can be done by
a primary care physician, as well as through free screenings
offered by many communities and kidney health organizations such as
the National Kidney Foundation and the American Kidney Fund. The
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend CKD screening for
patients with a history of any of the following:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Age greater than 50 years
- A family history of kidney disease
Early recognition and management of CKD may prevent progression
to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or complete kidney failure,
which would require dialysis or a kidney transplant to live.
Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, and
remaining active with regular exercise are important ways for
people to decrease their risk and control the progression of CKD.
Maintaining an ideal body weight, healthy eating and regular
exercise can also decrease the risks of developing type 2 diabetes
and cardiovascular disease, as well as helping to control blood
pressure and blood glucose for those who already have hypertension
or diabetes.
“On World Kidney Day it is important to remind everyone,
especially those with risk factors, to be screened for CKD, since
good care can often prevent progression of the disease,” says Dr.
Dugan W. Maddux, vice president of Kidney Disease Initiatives at
FMCNA, the nation’s leading network of dialysis facilities.
“Primary care doctors and nephrologists often work together in
teams to prevent CKD and the progression of CKD.”
To see an infographic on the “Top 10 Facts About Kidney
Disease,” go to:
http://www.ultracare-dialysis.com/~/media/CKD-Infographic/FMS-CKD-Infographic.pdf.
To learn more about risk factors for kidney disease, and take a
simple 12-question quiz to assess your own risk, go to:
www.ultracare-dialysis.com/riskquiz.
To learn more about all the treatments available for kidney
failure, FMCNA also offers Treatment Options Programs (TOPs), which
are open to the public at no cost, at locations around the country.
For information or to find a nearby program, call toll-free
888-392-2393, or visit www.ultracare-dialysis.com/TOPS.
About Fresenius Medical Care North America
Through its leading network of more than 2,150 dialysis
facilities in North America and vascular access centers,
laboratory, pharmacy and affiliated hospitals and nephrology
practices, Fresenius Medical Care provides renal services to
hundreds of thousands of people throughout the United States,
Mexico and Canada. It is also the continent’s top producer of
dialysis equipment, dialyzers and related disposable products and a
major supplier of renal pharmaceuticals. For more information about
the company, visit www.fmcna.com; for information about patient
services, visit www.ultracare-dialysis.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150312006307/en/
Upward AgencyThea Blum,
1-858-349-5790thea.blum@upwardagency.comorFresenius Medical Care
North AmericaJon Stone, 1-781-699-9704 (Office)Cell:
1-781-392-4680Jonathan.d.stone@fmc-na.com
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