Flu Risk Still High, Take Steps to Be Protected
Flu season doesn’t officially end until May, and typically we see the flu “peak” around this time. However, this year the virus is especially harmful and active with cases still increasing. If you haven’t already received a flu vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends you still get immunized to decrease your chances of becoming infected with this year’s virus. As kidney disease patients, you are especially susceptible to catching the flu. It is important to take precautionary steps to prevent infection. Learn more about this year’s virus and information on the vaccine by visiting the CDC’s flu hub: www.cdc.gov/flu People [...]
Tips for Taking Medication
An important part of treatment is taking your medication daily and as required. Even though you might not feel any difference from skipping a medication, it will still affect your body and may create additional long-term problems. Understanding kidney disease, why you are taking each medication and what the medication does will keep you motivated to follow your medication schedule. In addition to your medical team, the pharmacist who fills your prescriptions will be able to help you understand your medications, when to take them, and can provide reminder tips. The pharmacist may also be able to tell you which foods [...]
The Quest to Activate a Commonly Inactive Protective Protein
New research sponsored by the American Heart Association found high levels of a protective protein, albeit an inactive version of the protein, in the blood of African-Americans on dialysis. Matrix Gla protein, or MGP, has high affinity binding to calcium ions and therefore inhibiting vascular calcification. Researchers believe finding ways to activate this protein can lead to lower rates of vascular disease in current dialysis patients. MGP is activated by vitamin K and appears to be the only natural inhibitor of vascular calcification while vitamin K is the only known activator of MGP. Active MGP binds to calcium that circulates in [...]
The Kidney Citizen Issue 8
In this Issue: Dialysis Patients Secure Access to Life Saving Care Why Advocate? Going Home Beginning the Dialysis Adventure Staying Safe from Violence at Dialysis Finding Answers Through Research Living Well on Dialysis When a Kidney Transplant Fails Choosing a Partner with Kidney Disease The Sweetest Taboo Put Out the Fire! Simple Strategies to Reduce Chronic Inflammation Download PDF President's Message Dear friends, As I watch the change of seasons from winter to spring, I also see some exciting things in store for our membership. We still have our two Facebook pages, one [...]
National Healthcare Decision Day
A medical crisis, a severe accident, or an incapacitating illness can happen at any time, at any age, to any person. Do you know what kind of medical treatment you want if you can no longer make your own decisions or tell others what you want? Does your family know? Does your doctor and healthcare team know? We are encouraged to use the week of Monday, April 16th as the starting point to make plans about what healthcare decisions we want for our future medical care and treatment if we can no longer speak for ourselves. Besides knowing what choices we [...]
