KAT draws attention to kidney problems

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Posted on Tue, Aug. 28, 2007

KAT draws attention to kidney problems

Kidney Awareness Time boosts education and fundraising

BY BORDEN BLACK

Special to the Ledger-Enquirer

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Brady Benton learned a little bit about what his brother Brian has been going through for the last 17 years. Brian Benton, a Phenix City attorney, has endured three unsuccessful kidney transplants and now undergoes kidney dialysis three hours a day three days a week.

During an education and fundraising program, the tables were turned. Brady sat in the dialysis chair while his big brother acted as the caregiver and showed him how the system works.

Dozens of patients and friends, family and supporters came together at the DaVita Phenix City Dialysis Center to raise awareness of kidney disease and promote the upcoming Kidney Awareness Time (KAT) walk scheduled for Sept. 15.

Kidney failure

The kidneys work every moment of every day as a filter, straining out toxins and removing waste products and excess fluid from the body. The organs also produce hormones that affect the function of other organs, regulate the body's salt, potassium and acid content, produce a vitamin that promotes strong bones and control the production of red blood cells. About 200 quarts of fluid is filtered and returned to the bloodstream every day.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and other conditions that damage the kidneys decrease their ability to keep the body healthy. Dr. Raj Alappan, who works with DaVita Dialysis and Renal Associates, explains that kidney failure can creep up so slowly the patient may not realize it until the damage is done.

He points out that diabetes and high blood pressure are the two main causes of CKD. Diseases, infection, drugs and toxins can also damage the kidneys.

Early detection and treatment can often keep chronic kidney disease from progressing according to Dr. Alappan. Otherwise, it may eventually lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Methods to detect early CKD include: Blood pressure measurement, a test for protein in the urine and a test for blood creatinine.

Diet, including reducing carbohydrates and proteins is an important part of controlling kidney disease, Dr. Alappan says. Obesity affects cholesterol and can lead to kidney problems.

Kidney failure may be treated with hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or kidney transplantation

Dialysis

Dialysis replaces some of the functions of the kidneys. Usually dialysis is needed when there is only 10 to 15 percent kidney function left and not enough waste and fluid can be removed from the body.

There are currently about 1,000 patients at 12 dialysis facilities in Muscogee, Russell, Lee and Marion Counties, according to Vicky Taylor, manager of Phenix City Dialysis.

With hemodialysis, conducted in a hospital or center, a machine and a special filter called an artificial kidney clean the blood. Two needles are inserted Taylor explains. One pulls blood out of the body and into the dialyzer to clean, the other returns the blood back into the body. At a rate of 400 to 500 cc a minute, it takes three to four hours to clean the blood. That is required three days a week.

Source: National Kidney Foundation

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