Free Kidney Screening This Tuesday
Posted at: 09/24/2012 10:56 AM
| Updated at: 09/24/2012 10:46 PM
By: Brittany Falkers
Chronic kidney disease effects millions of Americans each year, but the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) aims to get those at risk screened now.
Right now, 1 in 9 (26 million) Americans have chronic kidney disease. Another 1 in 3 (73 million) Americans are at risk and most don't even know it, according to NFK spokesperson Kristin Bellows.
That is why the NFK is holding a free kidney health screening Tuesday, September 25 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. It is part of the Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), an effort to get people thinking about kidney health and chronic kidney disease early on.
Dr. Thomas Russ is a Nephrology specialist with Essentia Health and says that, in the U.S., at least 75 percent of all people with chronic kidney disease have it because of either diabetes or high blood pressure.
"People that have high blood pressure or diabetes and may not know it are really at a disadvantage. They need to have that diagnosis made and have the treatment initiated and that's what the national kidney foundation KEEP program is all about," Russ said.
Early screening means early detection. Something Russ says is important in the fight against kidney disease. If you get screened early you can avoid some of the complications of kidney disease. Such as the cardiovascular risk factors like heart attack and stroke, Russ said.
Another plus to early screening is that folks can avoid ending up on dialysis or needing a transplant, Russ said.
In 2011, our local NFK division screened 1,100 people at risk for kidney disease through the KEEP program. Through the KEEP program the NFK reveled problems to those who participated:
- 25 percent learned they may have kidney disease
- 18 percent learned they may have high cholesterol
- 10 percent learned they may have high blood pressure
- 7 percent learned they may have diabetes
Requirements for screening - Must be over 18 and have one fo the following risk factors:
- Have a history of high blood pressure (or taking blood pressure medication)
- Have a history of diabetes
- Does not personally have high blood pressure or diabetes, but has a parent or sibling with diabetes, high blood pressure or chronic kidney disease.
Participants of Tuesday's screening will complete a health history form and receive physical measurements (height, weight, blood pressure). They will give blood and urine samples and physicians will be on site to review results. It will take about an hour to complete the screening process.
Walk-ins are welcome, but prior registration is strongly encouraged. To register, contact Kristin Bellow at 800-596-7943 or online at www.kidney.org.
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