BOG-Official-2023
BOG-Official-2023

kidney disease

What Are The Most Common Kidney Health Concerns?

Kidney-DiagramKidney health is an extremely important aspect of overall health and wellness. Among our most vital organs, the kidneys are responsible for many things that keep our bodies healthy and functioning as they should, like regulating fluid levels and filtering toxins out of the bloodstream. In honor of the upcoming National Kidney Month, the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine thought it would be helpful to discuss some of the most common kidney health issues and the effects that they can have on a person’s health.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a condition that currently affects over 37 million adults in the US. People with CKD experience damage to their kidneys over time that prevents them from effectively cleaning and filtering the blood the way that healthy kidneys should. In its advanced stages, the condition can cause dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes, and wastes to build up in the body, increasing the risk of serious infection and potentially fatal kidney failure without proper treatment. In order to effectively treat chronic kidney disease, we must first determine if it is being caused by another underlying condition, like diabetes mellitus or high blood pressure.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones do not pose the same long-term health risk as Chronic Kidney Disease, but they are certainly nothing to take lightly. These hard deposits of minerals or salts can form inside the kidneys, as well as inside the ureter (the tubes that transport urine from the kidneys) or bladder. They can result from many things including an excess of mineral salts (including calcium) in the body. While they don’t always come with symptoms, kidney stones are often associated with intense pain, pressure in the kidney and bladder areas, nausea, and urination issues. Some stones may pass through the urine naturally, others may require minor surgical intervention.

Kidney Infections

Kidney infections (also known as pyelonephritis) is a unique type of urinary tract infection (UTI) that can affect the kidneys. These infections occur when an existing infection of the urethra or the bladder spreads upwards into the kidneys. Kidney infections can come with a multitude of symptoms including fever, chills, severe nausea, discomfort in the flanks, back, abdomen, or groin, and various urinary issues. In most cases, antibiotics are used as a treatment method for kidney infections.

When working to actively promote good kidney health, it’s essential to make healthy choices and keep up with annual appointments including screenings for kidney issues when appropriate. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

Helpful Statistics About Kidney Disease in the US

picture-of-kidneysThis March is National Kidney Month here in the US so we thought now would be a great time to discuss the importance of kidney health. The kidneys are a vital organ and healthy, functioning kidneys are absolutely essential for maintaining overall health and wellness. Unfortunately, kidney disease is very common for adults in the US, especially those with certain risk factors including high blood pressure, diabetes, advanced age, or a family history of kidney issues. This is why awareness is so important. In order to help our patients understand the importance of taking a proactive approach to kidney health this March and beyond, the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine wanted to provide some informative statistics about kidney disease courtesy of the National Kidney Foundation.

  • 15% of adults in the US (about 37 million people) are affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition where the kidneys become damaged over time and cannot effectively clean the blood as well as healthy kidneys should.
  • Over 2 million people worldwide currently receive treatment with dialysis, though the overwhelming majority of this 2 million live in the US, Japan, Germany, Brazil, and Italy.
  • In the US, treatment of CKD costs nearly $48 billion each year.
  • Nearly 90% of adults with CKD are not aware of their condition.
  • People aged 65 years or older account for 38% of CKD cases in the US, significantly higher than any other age group.
  • CKD is slightly more prevalent in women (15%) than in men (12%).
  • As of 2016, about 125,000 people in the US start treatment for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) annually.
  • More than 726,000 Americans are currently on dialysis or are living with a kidney transplant.
  • About 38% of ESKD cases in the US are caused by diabetes and about 26% are caused by high blood pressure.
  • The rate of new cases of ESKD is the lowest since 1998.

The most important steps we recommend taking for anyone serious about promoting good kidney health is taking good care of your body, making healthy choices, and discussing kidney health with your healthcare provider during annual wellness visits. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. We offer a wide variety of general healthcare services for people of all ages at our Snellville office, not far from Grayson, Lilburn, Lawrenceville, and Loganville.

Kidney Health Tips for National Kidney Month

Healthy kidneys are essential to maintaining good long-term health. Unfortunately, some people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history of kidney issues may have an increased risk of developing kidney disease. In addition to creating complications of its own, people with kidney disease are much more likely than the average person to suffer from heart disease. That’s why it’s important to be proactive and do whatever you can to help keep your kidneys healthy. So, in honor of National Kidney Month this March, we wanted to offer some simple tips on how you can promote good kidney health.

Kidney Health Tips for National Kidney MonthKeep Your Body Hydrated

Staying hydrated can help the kidneys function properly, but you don’t have to overdo it. We recommend for adults to drink 7 – 8 8-ounce glasses of water daily (the 8 x 8 rule). Anything more than that won’t necessarily do your kidneys any good.

Eat Healthy & Exercise

Getting daily exercise and eating a healthy, balanced diet can help keep your bodyweight down, which is helpful for the kidneys. These healthy habits can also keep your blood pressure and blood sugar levels in check, which is also good for your kidney health. We would recommend trying to eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day and limiting your sodium intake to below 2,300 milligrams a day. Additionally, high-protein diets and protein powders used during exercise can lead to kidney issues.

Do Not Smoke or Drink to Excess

Smoking can damage a person’s blood vessels, potentially decreasing the flow of blood to the kidneys and negatively affecting overall kidney function. Additionally, smoking can also contribute to an increased risk of high blood pressure and kidney cancer. Alcohol can make it more difficult to filter your blood properly. Consuming more than two drinks per day can also increase your chances of developing high blood pressure, leading to potential kidney disease.

Ask Your Doctor About Kidney Health

We advise asking your healthcare provider about your kidneys during visits to their office, including routine check-ups and annual physical appointments. Certain diagnostic tests can be performed to test the state of your kidneys and monitor for signs of kidney disease. This is especially important for older patients and people with high blood pressure and other potential kidney disease risk factors.

The most important step you can take for promoting good kidney health is taking care of your body and communicating with your healthcare provider about what you can do to live a kidney-healthy lifestyle. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. We offer a wide variety of general healthcare services for people of all ages at our Snellville office, not far from Grayson, Lilburn, Lawrenceville, and Loganville.

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