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Approximately 37 million people in the United States live with chronic kidney disease, and approximately 40% of people in the early stages of the disease do not know they have chronic kidney disease. Fortunately, there are ways to keep your kidneys healthy and watch out for warning signs.
Lynn Wright has a deep appreciation for the role healthy kidneys play in people's lives, as unhealthy kidneys have played a huge role in her life.
Kidney disease almost killed her husband, Scott. A 25-year-old woman saved him by donating her kidney. Inspired by this act of kindness, Ms. Lin decided she would become a donor for her kidney in 2020.
Now, helping people with kidney disease is Wright's full-time job. She runs her Patient and Family Partners program at the Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania. The program will train volunteers, most of whom have lived with kidney disease, to provide first-time counseling to clients facing the disease and the fear and anxiety that comes with it.
The foundation calls this “emotional support from people who were on the ground.”
How Capital Blue Cross supports kidney care
Capital Blue Cross understands kidney health. We've partnered with Strive Health to help our members with moderate (stage 3) or higher chronic kidney disease (CKD) receive better care at no additional cost. For many people, this is usually when the hallmark symptoms of CKD, such as weakness, fatigue, and swelling in the hands and feet, begin, according to experts at the National Kidney Foundation, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and others.
The program's nurses, nutritionists, social workers, and care managers understand the science of CKD and help members coordinate care with doctors, adhere to treatment, and even shop for kidney-healthy foods. You can
“Chronic kidney disease is life-changing, but in too many cases it is life-ending,” said Dr. Jeremy Wigginton, chief medical officer at Capital Blue Cross. “This program focuses on education and support from medical professionals to improve our members' quality of life and prevent CKD from progressing to the point where more expensive treatments are required.”
How do kidneys stay healthy?
The kidneys are small but powerful organs.
Healthy kidneys, about the size of a computer mouse, filter waste, toxins, and excess water from your blood every 30 minutes. These are essential for healthy bones, blood, blood pressure, and more.
According to the American Kidney Foundation, about 37 million people in the U.S. live in stages ranging from stage 1, when the kidneys have mild damage but are still functioning, to stage 5, when the kidneys have little or no function. suffer from some level of CKD.
In 2019, it cost $87.2 billion to treat Medicare beneficiaries with CKD, and an additional $37.3 billion to treat patients with end-stage renal disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). . Nationally, approximately 60% of medical costs associated with CKD are due to hospitalizations, some of which are avoidable.
Diabetes and hypertension are the main causes of kidney failure. People over the age of 60 are at higher risk, and the risk is amplified by heart disease, obesity, family history, and smoking.
According to the CDC, about 40% of people in the early stages of the disease do not know they are sick and therefore are less aware of the need to slow the progression of the disease.
The Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania urges people to protect their kidneys by making behavioral and lifestyle changes to control blood pressure.
- Check regularly and record your results.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Losing 10 pounds can lower your blood pressure.
- Eat a healthy diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products.
- Reduce your sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams or less per day.
- Take your prescribed blood pressure medication even if you feel well.
- Avoid smoking.
- Limit the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- “Take care of your kidneys before problems occur,” Dr. Wright said. “Please have regular health checkups and blood tests.”
- Additionally, she encourages those facing kidney disease to take care of their mental health, which her Patient and Family Partners Program can help with.
- “Kidney failure is scary,” she says. “Talking to people who are already facing these challenges is an important part of care.”
“Take care of your kidneys before problems arise. Get regular checkups and blood tests.”
— Lynn Wright, Central Pennsylvania Kidney Foundation
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https://www.capbluecross.com/