Renal-ities

Renal-ities

Originally published March 09, 2008

If you read "Dear Abby" last Monday, you'll recognize this letter-writer and her story: She was the hyper-fit mother of a one, self-described as a "health-conscious vegetarian" who was at her "physical peak." Since both of the woman's parents had high blood pressure, she saw her physician regularly. And everything was groovy.

Then came paragraph No. 2 and the woman's description of nausea and lower back pain, which led to a trip to her doctor, who she believed would confirm her suspicion that she was pregnant.

Not so.

The woman was informed her kidneys had all but shut down and told she needed to get to a specialist forthwith. There, she learned she would need dialysis to keep her alive. Since everyone in her family had high blood pressure, kidney donation was out of the question. The woman was on dialysis for 10 years before finally having a successful transplant.

And she is one of the lucky ones.

She's also one who wondered how this could have happened. Where were her early "warning signs" and/or "symptoms?" Why, for that matter, wasn't her failing kidney function diagnosed during her previous, and many, doctor visits?

Since March 15 is World Kidney Day, answering those questions and disseminating information about the prevalence of kidney disease on the world stage seems to be more than in order.

Here are the basics: Chronic kidney disease can be very subtle. Many people with the disease don't know they have it, and it can take many years to progress from CKD to kidney failure. Some people with CKD live out their lives without ever reaching that point.

If you have a family history of diabetes or high blood pressure, you are at-risk for CKD.

Since screening for kidney function may not be part of a routine physical, it behooves, and falls to, each of us to specifically request the test.

You can also do a little research. Just Google "symptoms kidney disease" and you'll see what we mean. Information is out there. Go get it. The National Kidney Foundation of Maryland is a great source: www.kidneymd.org

In the broader context, the Centers for Disease Control tell us that communicable diseases no longer reign as the leading threats to public health (and public health budgets). Chronic, noncommunicable diseases, among which CKD lists predominantly, have taken over that distinction; and the kidney, "too often overlooked as part of global public health efforts, has now emerged as central to prevention efforts."

Words to live by, for sure.

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/opinion/display_editorial.htm?StoryID=72175