PMC says 'take care of your kidneys'

PIKEVILLE - March is Kidney Awareness Month, and Pikeville Medical Center encourages the community to "take care of your kidneys."

Kidneys help bodies function by: cleaning out waste and extra fluid in the blood stream, make red blood cells, keep bones healthy and control the body's chemicals and blood pressure.  

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one in 10 American adults (more than 20 million) have some level of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

CKD is defined as any condition that causes reduced kidney function over time.

Since CKD usually has no symptoms until it is very far along, many people have the disease and do not know it.

Symptoms of kidney disease may include:

Feeling sick to your stomach often

Feeling tired or dizzy often

Swelling in your feet, hands or face

Back pain

Bloody, foamy or dark colored  urine

High blood pressure

A change in how often you go to the bathroom (urinating more or less often)

There are several different kinds of tests that can be performed to determine if someone has kidney disease. Some of these tests include: an estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate test (eGFR) that tests how well a person's kidneys clean their blood; a urine test; blood pressure test and a blood sugar test.

The two most common causes of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure. 

Other factors that increase one's risk for CKD are heart disease; being African American, Hispanic, Native American or Asian American; being 60 years of age or older;  and having a prior HIV/AIDS diagnoses.

To help prevent kidney disease, attend regular checkups with your primary care physician, and take any prescribed medicines as directed.

Other steps to prevent CDK include: staying regularly active (exercising at least 30 minutes a day/ five days a week), eating a diet low in fat and sodium, avoiding tobacco and limiting the amount of alcohol consumed.

PMC Nephrologist Dr. Donna Sanders specializes in the treatment of kidney disease, anemia, kidney stones and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Her office is located in suite 202 of the Grace Call Building at 1098 S. Mayo Trail, Pikeville. 

Office hours are Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

To schedule an appointment, or for more information about the nephrology services offered at PMC, call 606-218-4831.

Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, American Kidney Fund