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Research Shows Eating More Fruits and Vegetables Cuts Kidney Patients’ Medicine Expense in Half

2024-03-28T21:01:41-04:00October 19th, 2016|Categories: Early Intervention, eNews, Lifestyle, Medication, Nutrition, What Causes Kidney Disease|Tags: , |

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 [...]

September is Healthy Aging Month

2024-03-28T21:01:48-04:00September 9th, 2016|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Quality of Life|Tags: |

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

2024-03-28T21:01:49-04:00August 29th, 2016|Categories: eNews, News & Events, Nutrition, Staying Healthy, What Causes Kidney Disease, What Is Kidney Disease|Tags: |

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 [...]

Living Well on Dialysis

2024-03-28T21:02:04-04:00May 6th, 2016|Categories: eNews, Fact Sheet, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Stress Management|

If you receive dialysis treatments for kidney disease, you probably spend a lot of time focused on your physical health. That’s important -- but so, too, is your mental and emotional well-being. Dialysis is life-saving, but it’s also life-changing. Still, by taking charge of your emotional health -- and accepting help when you need it -- you can live a rewarding life on dialysis. Rollercoaster Emotions Dialysis requires significant time and effort. In addition to the considerable time spent traveling to and from appointments and receiving treatment itself, people receiving dialysis must carefully monitor their diet and fluid intake. It’s [...]

CDC aims to increase awareness of sepsis

2024-06-07T11:43:10-04:00March 17th, 2016|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle|Tags: |

Sepsis is the body’s reaction to an infection, leading to organ and tissue damage, and possible death. To raise awareness, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) designated September as Sepsis Awareness Month for the general public and health professionals. Infection prevention is especially important for dialysis patients, as bloodstream infections occur in 37,000 dialysis patients per year. The CDC feature blog posts documenting experiences with sepsis from a medical perspective, and include ways to improve care and treatment options. These resources are also available to patients, which include videos and fact sheets.

Prevention of Kidney Stones Vital for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

2024-03-28T21:04:50-04:00March 17th, 2016|Categories: Early Intervention, eNews, Lifestyle, What Causes Kidney Disease|Tags: , |

Some people who repeatedly develop kidney stones may also have high levels of calcium deposits in their blood vessels. A study recently published by the American Society of Nephrology suggests that this could explain their increased risk for cardiovascular disease. "It's becoming clear that having kidney stones is a bit like having raised blood pressure, raised cholesterol, or diabetes in that it is another sign of, or risk factor for, cardiovascular disease and its consequences," said study co-author Robert Unwin of University College London. The main message "is to begin to take having kidney stones seriously in relation to cardiovascular disease [...]

Kidney Disease Patients Face Unique Challenges in Health Care Communities

2024-03-28T21:04:54-04:00March 17th, 2016|Categories: eNews, Nutrition|

Chronic kidney disease patients living in health care communities, such as nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, face unique challenges related to maintaining a renal-specific diet. A recent article in the Journal of Renal Nutrition, suggests the controlled meal environment may have a more negative effect on residents nutritional status than a positive one. “When initially considered, the average person may be quick to conclude that diets are better managed in health care communities than at home,” writes Julie Hulsebus-Colvin, MBA, RD,CDN. However, this control and inflexibility regarding meal times and portion sizes can have a negative effect on a patient’s [...]

Challenges Appear on Horizon for Dialysis Workforce

2024-03-28T21:04:57-04:00March 17th, 2016|Categories: Employment, eNews, Lifestyle|

The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) recently conducted a survey which found that 51% of nephrology residency programs go unfilled. The American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) also recently surveyed its membership, and 39% of respondents said their unit has insufficient staff, creating a rushed environment that contributes to incomplete work! Many ANNA survey respondents saw overlap between their working conditions and patients’ treatment conditions. Another area of concern for respondents was long hours, which contribute to various errors. While most nephrology nurses rated patient safety favorably, there is always room for improvement. There has also been a recent trend of declining [...]

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Draws Attention to Need for Hygienic Practices

2024-03-28T21:04:58-04:00March 17th, 2016|Categories: eNews, Staying Healthy|Tags: , |

It is hard to remember a time when there were so many news stories about infectious disease.  First, the public was told to worry about a really bad flu this winter.  Then an outbreak of the measles, which many thought to have disappeared decades ago due to immunization.  And now the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is warning of a new superbug: CRE (the scientific name for which is carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae).  This should not be a cause for alarm, but rather a call for vigilance by every patient to take charge of their own health. CRE is a family of bacteria [...]

Can a Kidney Disease Chef Lose Weight?

2024-03-28T21:05:07-04:00March 8th, 2016|Categories: Fact Sheet, Nutrition, The Kidney Citizen|

By Duane Sunwold I’m a chronic kidney disease (CKD) patient that teaches in a culinary program. That means I’m around food ALL the time, plus the medication I was on caused me to gain an extra 70 pounds. I know managing your weight with kidney disease can be a challenge. Here are a few of the tips I used to help manage my weight. Eating the right types of food was key to losing the weight. That meant I had to embrace my doctor’s and dietitian’s advice. I planned out my 3 meals and 3 snacks a day, and followed [...]

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