World Kidney Day 2010

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World Kidney Day, Los Angeles
Conference sponsored by Healthy African American Families

“Protect Your Kidneys - Control Diabetes”

Thursday, March 11, 2010,

8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Holman United Methodist Church
3320 W. Adams Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90018

to register go to http://www.haafii.org/

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Free screening - National Kidney Foundation

The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP®) offers free screening for those at risk - anyone 18 years and older with high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney disease. It is designed to raise awareness about kidney disease among high risk individuals and provide free testing and educational information, so that kidney disease and its complications can be prevented or delayed.

Keep ScreeningKEEP provides three simple tests that determine kidney function to nearly 2,500 people each month in dozens of cities across the U.S. Participants receive a comprehensive health risk appraisal, blood pressure measurement, blood and urine testing and the opportunity to discuss their health and review results with onsite clinicians.

The program, which recently screened its 130,000th participant, is finding kidney disease at the earliest stage possible.

Find an affiliate near you:

http://www.kidney.org/news/keep/KEEPevents.cfm

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Dear Abby
Free Kidney Screening Helps Put Woman Back In The Pink

By Abigail Van Buren Abigail Van Buren – Mon Mar 1, 2:16 am ET

DEAR ABBY: In March of last year, I saw your column about the upcoming World Kidney Day when the National Kidney Foundation would offer free screenings around the country through their Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP). You encouraged your readers to find the location of their local KEEP screenings, so I did -- figuring I had nothing to lose.

Well, my lab tests from the KEEP screening showed that my kidneys had not been properly filtering toxins from my body. Armed with those test results I made an appointment with my doctor. She had never checked my kidney function before. Once she saw the results of my kidney function tests were low, she suggested major diet and exercise changes and took me off two medications she suspected were too much for my kidneys to handle.

Today, I feel great. My blood pressure is normal, my weight is 30 pounds lighter and my kidney function is continually improving. What a blessing that I read your column that day, Abby, and went to the KEEP screening before it was too late. If I hadn't, I could be on dialysis, waiting for a kidney transplant or, worse, not here at all. -- CAROL ANN JOHNSON, INDEPENDENCE, MO.

DEAR CAROL ANN: I am pleased that an item you saw in my column was so helpful. I hope your experience encourages other readers to look for the KEEP screenings in their local areas this year.

Readers, this year World Kidney Day is being held on Thursday, March 11. On that day the National Kidney Foundation will once again hold screenings all over the U.S. for those at risk. This includes anyone who has high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of those conditions or kidney disease.

Those of you who would like more information regarding kidney disease and free screenings should log onto www.kidney.org.