Learn about issues affecting people with kidney disease.
Education is KEY and an important tool in the fight against kidney disease. Whether you have just been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or you have been on dialysis for years, let us help you better understand the disease, dialysis, and the steps you can take in combating it.
What is Chronic Kidney Disease?
Like diabetes and high blood pressure, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is called a "silent killer" because there are few symptoms and by the time a person realizes they have a problem, damage has been done. Learn about CKD, who is affected, and what can be done to prevent it.
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Chronic Kidney Disease
High Blood Pressure and Chronic Kidney Disease
Blood pressure is the measure of how much pressure or force your heart needs to use to push your blood through your blood vessels. High blood pressure – a serious medical condition in which the force needed to move the blood is too high, making the heart work extra hard – is one of the top causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
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High Blood Pressure and Chronic Kidney Disease
Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease
People with diabetes have a greater risk of developing serious problems with their kidneys. In fact, diabetes is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (also called CKD).
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Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease
Kidney Health Disparities
African American, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native adults are twice as likely as white adults to have diabetes, which is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease.
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Kidney Health Disparities
What are my options if I have kidney failure?
For those of you who will be facing kidney failure, you have time to learn about treatment choices and prepare. There are two treatments for kidney failure -- dialysis and transplantation.
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» Which Modality is Right for You?
» Hemodialysis
» Home Hemodialysis
» Peritoneal
» Pertioneal Dose and Adequacy
» Transplant
How does Dialysis work?
View a brief education video - How Dialysis Works
Basic Facts about Kidney Disease and Treatment
Kidneys perform multiple essential functions. When the kidneys fail to function adequately, a replacement therapy must be chosen to sustain life. With appropriate intervention, patients with complete failure of their kidneys can live full, productive lives. Life expectance without appropriate therapy can be measured in days to weeks.
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Kidney Disease Facts
Living Well on Dialysis
What are some of the health issues I should learn more about to live better on dialysis?
Albumin
Albumin provides the body with the protein needed to both maintain growth and repair tissues. It can also help with fluid removal during the dialysis treatment. If your albumin level is good, fluid will move more easily from swollen tissues into the blood, where it can then be removed by the dialyzer.
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Albumin
Anemia Resources
Anemia is a condition where red blood cells are abnormally low, causing weakness and fatigue. Here is some valuable information on anemia and treatment options.
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» The Power of Iron
» Managing your anemia
» Government anemia policy
» Learn more about anemia
» Anemia and Kidney Disease
Dialysis Diet on a Budget
With so many food choices available and limited time in your schedule, it can be difficult to select the right food options for your kidney health and for your wallet. Use the following suggestions to help you eat more healthfully at home and on the go, while also saving money.
Dialysis Diet on a Budget
Emergency Preparedness
As evident from the disaster of hurricane Katrina and the recent hurricanes Gustav and Hanna, it is important to be prepared. For everyone this means having an evacuation plan ensuring you have plenty of clean water and food supplies, and knowing how to get in touch with your friends and loved ones.
For dialysis patients there are even more preparedness measures needed. You may be surprised to know that most local and state governments do not have a disaster preparedness plan that accounts for the special needs of dialysis patients. Therefore, it is extremely important that you take responsibility to prepare for a potential disaster. Learn how to prepare for an emergency, and find specific resources for kidney patients.
Emergencies are not just caused by natural disasters, but may also come in the form of highly contagious viruses that without proper, precautionary measures could lead to a pandemic. Learn more about pandemics and how you can be prepared.
Additional Emergency Preparedness Resources:
- http://www.ready.ga.gov/Plan Create your own emergency plan for your family. The website was developed by the state of Georgia, and has helpful emergency preparedness information for people from any state. You can create a customized plan to account for your needs as a CKD patient.
- http://www.diversitypreparedness.org/Language/34 Helpful emergency preparedness information in many languages.
- http://www.kcercoalition.com/ Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition
Fistula First
When you can have one, an AV fistula is the best type of vascular access. AV Fistula First is a program where Medicare and many key groups and people who care for people with kidney disease have joined together to support more fistulas in the U.S.
Flu Season
What your kidney doctor wants you to know about the 2009-2010 flu season
Heart Disease and Kidney Patients
Test your knowledge about the the relationship between kidney disease and heart disease.
Heart Disease and Kidney Patients
Immunizations
Kidney disease is one of several conditions that can put a person at higher risk for infection. This means that those with kidney failure may need to receive more shots, or higher doses, of vaccines to assure protection.
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Low Blood Pressure
Why is blood pressure so important? If you will be (or are a dialysis patient), it is important to watch for a problem called hypotension, otherwise known as low blood pressure. This is a rather common condition for dialysis patients.
» Patient to Patient: Low Blood Pressure During Dialysis Treatments
By Dewayne Hasten, DPC Patient Ambassador, Hemodialysis Patient and Biomedical Engineer
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Low Blood Pressure and Dialysis
» Low Blood Pressure During Dialysis (Intradialytic Hypotension - IDH)
By Dori Schatell, Medical Education Institute
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Low Blood Pressure and Dialysis
Phosphorus
Answering your questions about phosphate medications
Potassium Problems in the Dialysis Patient» Like sodium and calcium, potassium is a mineral. In 1807, Sir Davy first discovered potassium in potash (a type of ash).
» “K+” is the symbol for potassium (from kalum, the Latin word for potash). The “+” sign indicates it is an electrolyte that carries a positive charge.
» Most of the body’s potassium is located inside the cells with only a small amount in the blood. For patients, the preferred range for the serum (blood) potassium is 3.5 to 5.5. meq/l
Potassium and Dialysis
