DaVita Encourages Those at Risk for Kidney Disease to Make New Resolution

March is National Kidney Month and DaVita, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. and a leading provider of kidney care services, is encouraging people who are at risk for kidney disease to make a new resolution to learn and understand their risk.

One in 10 adults age 20 or older in the U.S. has kidney disease, but many people don’t know they have it or that they are even at risk because the disease is often symptomless. Kidney disease is one of the few chronic illnesses that can be slowed down or in some cases even prevented when caught early enough.

Take a short quiz to learn your risk for kidney disease at DaVita.com/LearnYourRisk.

In addition, minority populations are often at a higher risk for kidney disease. Those at risk include individuals with diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as older adults, Hispanics, African-Americans and American Indians. Other risk factors for kidney disease include cardiovascular disease, obesity, high cholesterol, lupus and a family history of the disease.

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

·         One in three people with diabetes has kidney disease.

·         One in five people with high blood pressure has kidney disease.

·         African-Americans are about three and a half times more likely to develop kidney failure than whites.

·         Hispanics are one and a half times more likely to develop kidney failure than non-Hispanics.

The first step in managing kidney disease is to know the risk factors. For those at increased risk, a simple blood test from a doctor can confirm the disease.

“Everybody should get tested for kidney disease at least three or four times a year,” said West Louis, an African-American high school basketball coach and peritoneal dialysis patient. “If I would have gotten myself tested, I wouldn’t be in the situation that I’m in now. I regret that I didn’t do that.”

Louis developed kidney disease due to high blood pressure and didn’t know he had the disease until his kidneys had already failed. He now dialyzes at home and maintains his coaching schedule with help from his wife.

For those already living with kidney disease, DaVita shares some lifestyle tips to promote good kidney health:

1.       Stay informed – Make an effort to learn as much as possible about kidney disease to make educated decisions about next steps. Sign up for a no-cost Kidney Smart® class in your area to learn directly from a kidney disease educator at DaVita.com/KSClass.

2.       Stay positive – Take care of your health, find support and continue to engage with family and friends. Join myDaVita.com to share stories, gain insights and make connections at DaVita.com/JoinMyDaVita.

3.       Seek guidance – Ask your doctor about ways to slow the progression of kidney disease and figure out the best way to manage it. Find a kidney doctor at DaVita.com/FAD.

4.       Work, if possible – Working while on dialysis has both physical and emotional benefits, including lower rates of depression, fewer hospitalizations and higher scores on general health and vitality tests. Find out more at DaVita.com/WorkingBenefits.

5.       Take charge of your health – Diet can help slow the progression of kidney disease. In addition to 1,000-plus kidney-friendly recipes, DaVita Diet Helper™ offers a way to track potassium, phosphorus and sodium levels. Learn more at DaVita.com/MyDietHelper.