Draft of Blog for National Kidney Month

CELEBRATING NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH By Jim Myers National Kidney Month 2020 March is National Kidney Month. It is a time where we raise awareness across the country. Each year, there is a new theme to help raise awareness. This year, in conjunction with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the theme is the link between high blood pressure (HBP) and kidney disease. What Is High Blood Pressure? Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against your bloody vessel walls as your heart pumps blood throughout your body. High Blood Pressure (hypertension) is an increase in the force that blood places on the vessels as blood moves through your body. What Do Your Kidneys Do? Your normal kidneys filter a half cup of blood a minute to remove waste & extra water to make urine. The urine goes from your kidneys to your bladder, and eventually out of your body. How Does High Blood Pressure Affect Your Kidneys? As a result of the increased pressure on the walls of your blood vessels, HBP can cause the blood vessels to narrow. This in turn causes damages the blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the kidney. The constriction reduces your blood flow to the kidney. This in turn causes your kidneys to fail to remove all the waste products from your body. This can lead to kidney failure. High Blood Leading to Kidney Disease is Very Common HBP is the number two leading cause of kidney disease. According to NIH, almost 1 of 2 Adults in America (108 Million People) have high blood pressure. More than 1 in 7 American Adults (37 Million People) have chronic kidney disease and most don't know it. This is why during the month of March, we urge you to get tested for Kidney Disease. Who Is More Likely to Have High Blood Pressure and/or Kidney Disease? You are more likely to have high blood pressure if: 1. You're Older- Blood Pressure usually increases as we get older. Our blood vessels thicken and stiffen over time; 2. Family History- HBP runs in the family; 3. You Have An Unhealthy Lifestyle- bad habits like eating too much salt, drinking too much alcohol, not being physically active can increase your risk of HBP; 4. You Are Afro-American or Other Minorities-African American, Hispanic or Asian Adults or more likely to have high blood pressure than Caucasians; 5. You Are Male- Sorry, guys but men are more likely to have high blood pressure than females before the age of 55. Women are more likely to develop HBP after 55. Kidney Disease Factors Factors that increase your risk of Kidney Disease are: 1. Diabetes; 2. HBP- can be both a cause and as a result of Kidney Disease; 3. Family History- a family history of Kidney Disease or heredity can cause it, for example polycystic kidney disease; 4. Race/Ethnicity- African-Americans, Hispanics & American Indians are at greater risk of Kidney Disease. The Good News The good news is that you can take steps to protect your kidneys from HBP. These steps include: 1. Take Your HBP Medication: If your doctor prescribes meds for HBP, make sure you take it as directed. This will lower your blood pressure which in turn will slow the development of Kidney Disease; 2. Maintain A Healthy Weight- You can improve your BP by maintaining a healthy weight as recommended by your doctor; 3. Eat Healthy Foods and Beverages- Fruits and vegetables, lean meat, whole grains & heart-healthy foods should be on your shopping list 4. Quit Smoking!! 5. Get Plenty of Sleep- Try for 7-8 hours of sleep every night; 6. Exercise- Try to get at least 30 minutes or more of physical activity every day. Conclusion High Blood Pressure is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease. In National Kidney Month, please consider taking steps to avoid HBP. Also, please consider testing for Kidney Disease. Talk to your doctor about urinalysis and a blood test for Kidney Disease. Early detection and early treatment could save your life! REFERENCES March is National Kidney Month, https://www.davita.com/education/kidney-disease/risk-factors/march-is-national-kidney-month National Kidney Month 2020 https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/community-health-outreach/national-kidney-month?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social+media&utm_campaign=nkm+2020&fbclid=IwAR2PIH4_hg8B7BT4-tUQw26o5poFTf63tYKmcvJMUHKKf9lDI5rQIho2KxU How High Blood Pressure Can Lead to Kidney Disease, https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/health-threats-from-high-blood-pressure/how-high-blood-pressure-can-lead-to-kidney-damage-or-failure High Blood Pressure & Kidney Disease, https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/high-blood-pressure High Blood Pressure https://www.kidneyfund.org/prevention/are-you-at-risk/high-blood-pressure.html