People with kidney disease may not have symptoms until the disease is advanced and they need dialysis treatment or a transplant.
During National Kidney Month in March, Fresenius Medical Care North America, operator of the nation's leading network of dialysis clinics, encourages Americans to take steps to keep their kidneys healthy and to detect kidney disease early.
"The symptoms of kidney disease are often overlooked, said Joseph Pulliam, MD, Vice President, Medical Affairs for Home Therapies at Fresenius Medical Care. "We know that people who have diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease are at higher risk, so it's important that they try to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disease. When CKD gets worse, it can lead to kidney failure, called end stage renal disease (ESRD). People who have ESRD need a kidney transplant or dialysis - a life-sustaining treatment typically required every other day to clean waste products from the blood.
CKD also disproportionately affects African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, American Indians and senior citizens.
Fresenius Medical Care encourages people, especially those who think they may be at risk for CKD, to follow these tips:
Five Tips to Help Prevent CKD
1. See your doctor regularly, especially if you have diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease. Keeping your diabetes and blood pressure under control may help prevent CKD or slow it down.
2. If you smoke, quit. Smoking can accelerate kidney disease.
3. Work with your doctor and healthcare team. Tell them about any changes in your health.
4. Follow all medication and diet changes prescribed by your doctor.
5. Take an active role in your healthcare. Educate yourself about kidney disease and its treatments.
"Even if you already have chronic kidney disease, there are many things you can do to slow down the damage, Pulliam said. "By following these five tips, you can take an active role in keeping your kidneys as healthy as possible.
Fresenius Medical Care provides patient-friendly support and detailed information on kidney disease and dialysis through its website: www.ultracare-dialysis.com. For more information on dialysis clinics in your area, please call 1-866-4-DIALYSIS (1-866-434-2597).
About Fresenius Medical Care North America
Fresenius Medical Care North America is a subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, the world's largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1,600,000 individuals worldwide. Through its network of 2,238 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to approximately 173,860 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the world's leading provider of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME, FME3) and the New York Stock Exchange (FMS, FMS-p).
For more information about Fresenius Medical Care's U.S. network of more than 1,600 dialysis facilities, visit the Company's website at www.ultracare-dialysis.com. For more information about Fresenius Medical Care, visit the Company's websites: www.fmcna.com or www.fmc-ag.com.
