The Kidney Citizen Issue 4
Inside this issue you will find information about one of the rare diseases that can cause kidney disease, Fabry. You'll also find information about getting through the holidays and patient advocacy.
Staying Well During Flu Season
With flu season upon us, it is especially important for you as a chronic kidney disease patient to take precautions to avoid infection. If you are also diabetic, your risk of being hospitalized because of flu increases dramatically. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released comprehensive guidelines about avoiding the flu and staying well during flu season. First and foremost, the CDC recommends the flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older unless told otherwise by a healthcare professional. It is important to note, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. If you do contract the flu, one [...]
November is Family Caregiver Month
By Kathi Niccum, EdD, Education Director of DPC Education Center Let’s celebrate our caregivers this month! Hopefully, we will tell them often how much they mean to us and how much we appreciate their help, yet November is a time to make it “extra special.” For some, their caregiver is a spouse, a daughter or son, a sibling, or a special friend. Our informal caregivers (unpaid folks who assist with activities of daily living and/or medical tasks) help with so many tasks including transportation, medication reminders, doctor visits, coordination of health care, advocacy, and they provide personal emotional support. Caregivers make [...]
Research Shows Eating More Fruits and Vegetables Cuts Kidney Patients’ Medicine Expense in Half
High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney disease. When blood pressure is too high, blood vessel walls can thicken and become stiff which can also damage organs throughout the body such as the kidneys. Not only can high blood pressure damage kidneys, but kidney disease can lead to high blood pressure. If kidneys are damaged and can no longer make an enzyme known as renin, blood pressure can be elevated. With continued emphasis on managing and even preventing chronic conditions to improve overall health, research is continuing to occur to find effective interventions to treat conditions such as [...]
DPC Education Center Joins Forces With the CDC’s Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition
We are proud to announce that the DPC Education Center has recently partnered with the Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition to help reduce the risk of bloodstream infections among hemodialysis patients. The Coalition is a collaboration of dialysis organizations who share the common goal of promoting the use of CDC recommendations and tools to improve patient safety nationwide. Dialysis Patient Citizens has been involved with the Bloodstream Infection (BSI) Collaborative since its creation and was the first patient group to participate, attending the inaugural meeting in 2011. The Making Dialysis Safer For Patient Coalition was created out of this initial effort and is working to [...]
September is Healthy Aging Month
By Kathi Niccum Ed.D, Education Director Healthy aging is important for all age groups. It includes all aspects of your life, including both physical and mental health. Healthy aging is especially important when you live with a chronic illness. It is all too easy to become overwhelmed and neglect other aspects of your health. So celebrate healthy aging month by setting or reaffirming personal goals and engaging in activities promoting a healthy lifestyle. Here are some examples of what you can do to promote a heathy lifestyle: 1. Stay active Exercise is important for maintaining both physical and mental aspects of health. [...]
“DASH” Diet Lowers Blood Pressure and Reduces Risk of Kidney Disease
Research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet has shown to be effective in preventing other chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. The diet is high in nuts and legumes, low-fat diary, whole grains, fruits and vegetables and low in red and processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages and sodium. Researchers examined records from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study which in 1987 began following a group of over 15,000 middle aged adults for more than 20 years. The ARIC Study was started in 1987 by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute [...]
The Kidney Citizen Issue 3
The Dialysis P.A.T.I.E.N.T. Act, the gout and kidney connection, and phosphorus and dialysis
Vaccine Changes for the 2016-2017 Flu Season
While it feels like summer just started, the Centers for Disease Control has already begun preparation for the next flu season. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted that live attenuate influenza vaccine (LAIV) also known as the “nasal spray” flu vaccine, should not be used during the 2016-2017 flu season. ACIP is a panel of immunization experts that advise the CDC. Their decision to vote against using LAIV is based on data showing poor or relatively lower effectiveness from 2013 to 2016. In late May, preliminary data on the effectiveness of LAIVE among children ages 2 through 17 [...]
University of Maryland Helps Patient Avoid Dialysis Through 28-Person Kidney Swap
If you are currently on the kidney transplant list, you may have heard of paired kidney donation. When a family member or friend who is willing to be a living donor, but is not compatible to their intended recipient they can choose to be part of a paired kidney exchange. The transplant team will work to match another donor and recipient to create a donation “chain.” Frequently you’ll see “chains” in the news with, 9, 14, or even 32 donors and recipients paired together for kidney donations. Recently, the University of Maryland School of Medicine in conjunction with the National Kidney Registry participated in a 28-person [...]