Today is World Kidney Day and March is National Kidney Month. Did you know over 35 million people in the U.S. (1 in 7 adults) have chronic kidney disease? Chronic kidney disease is also known renal disease or CKD for short.
One of the saddest situations I have seen in my nursing career is caring for patients who has no idea they have CKD. This is far too common as the CDC estimates approximately 9 in 10 adults with CKD don’t know they have it.
The two main causes of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure (also known as hypertension).
If you have diabetes and, or hypertension, it’s important to make the recommended lifestyle changes necessary to gain better control of your blood glucose and blood pressure. Ways to achieve this are:
- Exercising most days of the week (do what you love, make it fun!)
- Eating a healthy diet.
- Losing weight if you’re overweight or obese.
- Getting quality sleep.
- Reduce or avoid consuming alcohol and using tobacco products.
- Taking your prescribed medications.
Be your own advocate:
