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Mineral Metabolism

2024-03-28T21:05:53-04:00February 2nd, 2016|Categories: eNews, News & Events, Nutrition, Staying Healthy|

The kidneys help regulate the amount of minerals in the blood. Important minerals include calcium and phosphorous. Calcium and phosphorous help keep our bones strong and healthy. When the kidneys stop working, the amount of minerals in the blood can build up to dangerous levels. When there is too much calcium and/or phosphorous in the blood, it can deposit in the soft tissues in your body, including eyes, heart and lungs. This increases the likelihood of stroke and heart attack and can also decrease the likelihood for a kidney transplant. Mineral levels can be maintained by eating a healthy diet low [...]

Report Connects High Intakes of Salt And Potassium To Quicker CKD Progression

2024-03-28T21:06:00-04:00November 23rd, 2015|Categories: Early Intervention, eNews, Nutrition|

An increased intake of salt and potassium could lead to an increased chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, according to a study out of the Tulane University in New Orleans. Scientists studied urinary sodium and potassium levels from 3,900 4 CKD patients over a period of three years. CKD progression was defined as developing End State Renal Disease (ESRD) or experiencing a decreased renal function. Results found that CKD patients with the highest salt levels were 54 percent more likely to experience CKD progression and a 45 percent chance of early death. For those with high potassium levels, 59 percent were more [...]

Tips to Prepare for Flu Season

2024-03-28T21:06:03-04:00October 29th, 2015|Categories: eNews, Immunizations, Staying Healthy|

With flu season starting, it’s important to protect yourself and others from getting sick. The Kidney Community Emergency Response Program (KCER) offers a few tips for influenza preparedness. Suggestions include avoiding close contact with people who are sick, staying home if you are ill and practicing proper hygiene to prevent the spread of germs. More information can be found on the KCER website.

September is National Emergency Preparedness Month

2024-03-28T21:06:07-04:00September 25th, 2015|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle|

As part of National Emergency Preparedness Month, the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) has designated this week Kidney Patient Disaster Awareness week. KCER is offering resources such as information cards and fact sheets on how dialysis patients can prepare for natural disasters. One of KCER’s tips involves putting together supplies for a three-day emergency diet. While it won’t replace dialysis, it will help reduce the effects of being off dialysis for a few days should an emergency occur.  KCER recommends stocking bottled or distilled water, foods low in phosphorous, sodium and sugar, and limiting fluid intake. More information can be found [...]

Report Finds Boiling Meat Can Reduce Phosphorous Content

2024-03-28T21:06:12-04:00August 26th, 2015|Categories: Early Intervention, eNews, Nutrition, Webinar|

Part of a dialysis diet involves eating foods low in phosphorous. A new study suggests that preparing meat in a certain way can reduce phosphorous levels while still retaining protein. Researchers in Japan experimented with cooking beef, cutting the meat in different ways and switching up the cooking liquid. They found that boiling the meat in a pressure cooker with soft water and discarding the cooking liquid afterward worked the best.  Data also suggests using sliced meat, as the high surface area allows the phosphorous to exit easily. For kidney patients, the National Kidney Foundation suggests a daily intake of 10 [...]

Are You Getting Enough High-Quality Sleep?

2024-03-28T21:06:14-04:00May 28th, 2015|Categories: Early Intervention, eNews, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Nutrition, Peritoneal Dialysis, Physical Health, What Causes Kidney Disease|

We all know that sleep is important, yet many of us never seem to get enough of it. The journal Sleep Review recently found that 67% of end-stage renal disease patients said they were impacted by sleep disorders that prevented them from getting enough sleep. These sleep disorders include periodic leg movement syndrome (PLMS), restless legs syndrome (RLS), insomnia and sleep apnea. Researchers from Monash University reported in the journal Renal Failure that lack of sleep, especially when coupled with chronic kidney disease, leads to hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, lower quality of life and shorter life expectancy. This leaves many kidney patients [...]

Progress on Bloodstream-Associated Infections

2024-03-28T21:06:20-04:00January 27th, 2015|Categories: eNews, Lifestyle, Treatment|Tags: , |

With recent changes in dialysis payment, dialysis providers will now be held accountable for reducing bloodstream-associated infections. Research shows that when health care professionals are educated and evaluated on infection control requirements and they follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), bloodstream-associated infections can be reduced dramatically. This is why our affiliate, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC), continues to remain active with the CDC Bloodstream Infection Collaborative, including organizing patient focus groups to identify how patients can help. The CDC recently announced a 46% decrease in central-line associated bloodstream infections. Bloodstream infections are often preventable, which is why we [...]

Education Center Develops New Patient Education Classroom on Bone & Mineral Disease

2024-03-28T21:06:21-04:00January 27th, 2015|Categories: eNews, News & Events, Nutrition, Staying Healthy|Tags: , |

The DPC Education Center recently developed an online classroom on bone & mineral disease for dialysis patients. One topic the classroom focuses on is Vitamin D and its many benefits. Vitamin D balances calcium and phosphorus, regulates parathyroid hormone (PTH) production, helps build strong bones, and prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Receptors in the kidney turn Vitamin D into its active form, calciferol, but the kidneys of dialysis patients are unable to perform this function. This helps explain why almost all dialysis patients are Vitamin D-deficient. Unfortunately, dialysis patients are often unable to turn Vitamin D from natural [...]

Bone Health and Kidney Disease

2024-03-28T21:06:22-04:00January 8th, 2015|Categories: Nutrition|Tags: |

Bones are living cells made up of collagen, calcium and phosphorous. Collagen is a protein that helps with bones’ flexibility. Calcium and phosphorous make the bones hard and strong. Cells work continuously to remove and replace weak areas of bone throughout life. The kidneys help regulate the phosphorous and calcium levels in the blood in order to keep bones healthy. When kidneys become unable to do their job, the bones begin to weaken. This can lead to joint pain and other health complications. Bones can be kept healthy through exercise and by taking prescribed phosphorus binder medications. These medications reduce [...]

Proper Disinfection Practices Can Eliminate The Spread of Ebola

2024-03-28T21:06:23-04:00December 2nd, 2014|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Lifestyle|Tags: |

Dialysis facilities have infection control policies and procedures in place to protect their patients and staff from coming in contact with any blood borne diseases, but diligence in following those policies and procedures is imperative to protect us all. Dialysis staff are instructed to treat all patients with standard precautions. These include gloves, masks over the nose and mouth, shields or goggles for eye protection and waterproof gowns whenever there is risk for exposure. Staff should wash their hands and change gloves between every patient to reduce the risk of transmission of any infectious material, in particular blood.  You should always [...]

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