Kidney Connection Newsletter
Fall 2008
Features:
- A Message from the Executive Director, Lisa Allgood
- Ten Tips to Keep Your Heart Healthy on Dialysis
- Newly Diagnosed with Kidney Disease?
- Mark your Calendar! 2008 Events
- NKFK Chapter News
- Gift of Life Gala 2008 Celebrates NKFK 40th Anniversary
- Volunteer Spotlight: Brad Rives
- Walk the Kidney Walk Way!
- Congress Passes Medicare Bill with Kidney Education Initiative
- NKFK Partners with Diabetes Program in Public Awareness Campaign
- Dean Kutz 5K Race for Organ and Tissue Donation Race Results
A Message from the Executive Director, Lisa Allgood
Help Us Make Our Point
The National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games were held in Pittsburgh July 11-16, 2008. This is the largest gathering of transplant recipients, donor families, and living donors coming together to show that transplantation works and create awareness for the need for more organ donation. These Olympic style sporting events give transplant recipients the opportunity to compete in individual and team sports. Team Kentucky traveled to Pittsburgh with 31 athletes, 3 donor families, and 3 living donors. If you fit in any of these three categories, you too can join Team Kentucky when they travel to Madison, Wisconsin July 30-August 4th, 2010 for the next U.S. Transplant Games.
The number of individuals waiting for transplants will soon exceed 100.000. Eighteen die each day waiting for a life saving organ. Over 750 right here in Kentucky are waiting. You can help us make our point by joining the National Kidney Foundation of Kentucky in its efforts to create awareness of the need for more organ donation.
To learn more about opportunities to become involved with the National Kidney Foundation Team Kentucky, the Donor Family Council, Living Donor Council,and Patient and Family Council, go to www.nkfk.org or call 1- 800-737-5433. You can help us “Make Our Point”.
Ten Tips to Keep Your Heart Healthy on Dialysis
Cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessel disease) is very common in people with chronic kidney disease and is the leading cause of early death for these patients. People with chronic kidney disease are more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or angina (chest pain). If you have heart and blood vessel disease, it is important to follow your doctor’s advice about how to lower your risk for heart disease. The following ten tips will also help you to keep it from getting worse.
Tip One: Control Blood Sugar if You Have Diabetes
High blood sugar can cause damage to blood vessels in your body that supply oxygen to the heart and brain, leading to heart disease or stroke. Fatty deposits that build up in the blood vessels can break apart, causing blood clots and blockages in the vessels.
- Check your blood sugar level as often as your doctor prescribes.
- Follow your treatment plan of medications, diet, and exercise.
- Ask your doctor about which diabetes medications are best for you.
Tip Two: Control High Blood Pressure
Your kidneys help control high blood pressure, but once your kidneys are damaged they may not be able to do that as well and can lead to heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes.
- Take your blood pressure medications as prescribed. ACE inhibitors and ARB’s are medications that can help protect your kidneys. Ask your doctor about these if you do not take them now.
- Know your blood pressure reading before and after dialysis treatment. It should be less than 140/90 before treatment and less than 130/80 after it.
- Follow your fluid and sodium (salt) limits to prevent fluid buildup.
- Your diet should not include more than 2 grams of sodium or 5 grams of salt a day.
- Speak to your dietician once a month.
- Ask your dialysis care team if increasing ultrafiltration (fluid removal) during dialysis or longer or more frequent dialysis treatments could help prevent fluid buildup.
Tip Three: Reduce High Cholesterol Levels
- Make sure you have an annual blood test for the following:
- Total Cholesterol (should be less than 200)
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) “bad” cholesterol (should be less than 100)
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) “good” cholesterol (should be above 40)
- Triglycerides (should be below 150)
- If your levels are not in a healthy range, you should follow a low-fat diet, increase physical activity, and ask your doctor about a medicine to help lower your cholesterol, if necessary.
Tip Four: Follow a Heart-Healthy Diet
- Eat foods low in saturated fats and cholesterol. Each day, your diet
should have less than seven percent of total calories from saturated fat and less than 200 milligrams of cholesterol. Check the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol that are listed on the nutrition label of food products. - Limit high-phosphorus foods like dairy, nuts, seeds, dried beans and peas (see Heart Tip #7).
- Speak to your dietician about how to get the right amount of protein and calories to stay at a healthy weight.
- Increase foods that are high in heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, flaxseeds, soybeans, walnuts, and canola oil.
Tip 5: Increase Physical Activity
- Ask your doctor if you need physical therapy to improve your strength and endurance before increasing physical activity.
- Start exercising slowly and build gradually to about 30 minutes most days of the week.
- Exercise regularly to help improve unhealthy cholesterol levels, reduce excess weight, control blood sugar and blood pressure, and improve heart and lung fitness.
Tip 6: Treat Anemia
People with CKD often get anemia (a low blood cell count) because they do not have enough of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) to stimulate red blood cell production. Correcting anemia helps prevent thickening of the muscle on the left side of the heart, which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. If you have anemia, you should receive an erythropoietin-stimulating agent (ESA) and iron supplements.
- Your treatment goal is to reach a hemoglobin level of 11 or greater.
Tip 7: Keep Calcium and Phosphorus in Balance
People with CKD develop calcium and phosphorus imbalance, which can lead to bone and heart disease.
- Keep these two important minerals in balance by
- Following a low-phosphorus diet
- Taking medicines called phosphate binders with your meals and snacks
- Taking an active form of Vitamin D if prescribed by your doctor
Tip 8: Stop Smoking
Smoking increases your risk for heart and blood vessel disease. If you smoke, ask your doctor to refer you to a program to help you quit.
Tip 9: Talk to Your Doctor About Taking Aspirin to Prevent Heart Attacks
- Your doctor may recommend a low-dose aspirin to help prevent heart attacks.
- Your doctor will need to make sure aspirin does not cause you to have bleeding problems.
Tip 10: Reduce Stress
Stressful feelings like sadness, anger, and worry may contribute to heart disease.
- Talk to your social worker about how you can learn to cope with stressful feelings when you first start dialysis and at regular intervals after that.
- Psychological counseling and medications may also be recommended.
For more information on heart health and nutrition, please contact the NKFK at 1-800-737-5433 or visit
www.nkfk.org. Information from the National Kidney Foundation.
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YOGA YOUR WAY TO GOOD HEALTH |
Continuous activities such as walking, swimming, bicycling (indoors or out) are good for cardiovascular health. Another way to stay in shape is by doing yoga. Yoga is a low-impact form of exercise in which you tone your muscles with slow movements and by holding various postures. Many people find it to be a very relaxing way to exercise. |
Newly Diagnosed with Kidney Disease? Knowledge is Power!
Being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be a very trying and difficult time for everyone involved-- the patient, his family and friends. But information can go a long way towards helping one gain control of the situation. A patient who knows what to expect, what to watch out for and what treatment options are available if his kidneys fail can make an educated decision about his healthcare.
At first, your doctor should assess your kidney function to determine a plan for your treatment. Tests are conducted to determine the stage and type of kidney disease, the size of the kidneys and the damage already done. After receiving these results, you and your doctor will need to sit down and create a plan of action.
The following tests may be done:
- Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), which tells how much kidney function you have. You do not need another test to estimate your GFR. Your doctor can calculate it from the results of your blood creatinine test, your age, race, gender, and other factors. Your GFR helps your doctor determine your stage of kidney disease. GFR is the best way to evaluate your kidney function.
- An ultrasound or CT scan takes a picture of your kidneys and urinary tract. This will show whether your kidneys are too large or too small, whether you have any blockages such as kidney stones or tumors and whether there are any problems in the structure of your kidneys and urinary tract.
- A kidney biopsy involves looking at small pieces of your kidney tissue under a microscope. This is done in some cases to help identify a specific type of kidney disease, determine how much damage has occurred, and plan treatment.
If you have chronic kidney disease, your treatment plan will depend on your stage of kidney disease and other health problems you may have. Your treatment may include the following:
- Controlling other health problems: You may have other disorders, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, which can damage your kidneys. If you have diabetes, you will need to monitor your blood sugar, follow a specific diet and take your medication as ordered by your doctor. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend you lose weight, cut down on salt in your diet and take your medication. Your doctor may subscribe medications called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) to help protect your kidney function.
- Preventing heart problems: People who have kidney disease may also have an increased chance of developing heart problems. Controlling diabetes and high blood pressure is very important to help prevent heart problems. In addition, anemia (low blood count) should be treated because it can cause heart damage. To treat anemia, you may need to take a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) and iron supplements. If your cholesterol level is high, your doctor may recommend changes in your diet, regular exercise and, possibly, special medications to help lower cholesterol. Smoking makes heart and kidney disease worse and if you are a smoker, you will need to quit.
- Treating complications of kidney disease: Kidney disease may cause complications, such as anemia and bone disease. In addition to treating your anemia with EPO and iron supplements, you may need to follow some guidelines to maintain healthy bones. This may include limiting the amount of high phosphorus foods in your diet, taking a type of medication called a phosphate binder with your meals and snacks, and taking a form of Vitamin D.
Once your kidney disease and other health problems are under control, it is vital to track your progress. Your glomerular filtration rate (GFR) should be checked regularly to clarify the status of your kidney disease. Also, the amount of protein in your urine will be checked from time to time to make sure your kidneys are doing their job. Lastly, nutritional tests may be done to make sure you are getting enough protein and calories to maintain your overall health. Your doctor can refer you to a registered dietitian who will help you plan your meals to get the right foods in the right amounts.
The goal of your treatment is to slow or prevent your kidneys from becoming worse. Achieving this goal is dependant upon your stage of kidney disease, how well you follow your treatment plan, and the cause of your kidney disease. The earlier your kidney disease is detected, the better the chance of slowing or stopping its progression.
You are a key member of the health care team. Learn all you can about chronic kidney disease and its treatment and make sure to follow all the steps to your treatment faithfully. For more information on managing chronic kidney disease, please contact the NKFK at 1-800-737-5433 and speak with your doctor. Information from the National Kidney Foundation.
Mark your Calendar! 2008 Events
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NKFK Chapter News
Bowling Green
2nd Annual Ride Out Loud Bike Event
Join your friends, family and co-workers for this year’s 2nd annual Ride•Out•Loud Bike Event to raise funds for the NKFK. It’s going to be a fun time for all that participate. No matter your age or cycling experience, there’s a bike route just perfect for you! Ride•Out•Loud offers the chance to ride through Southcentral Kentucky’s scenic countryside while benefiting a worthy cause.
Ride•Out•Loud is sponsored by The Medical Center of Bowling Green. The NKFK Bowling Green Chapter and the Bowling Green League of Bicyclists are planning the event.
The bike event will take place on August 16, 2008 at Chaney’s Dairy Barn located at 9191 Nashville Road in Bowling Green. Registration begins at 7:30 am and the ride starts at 8:30 am. Early bird individual registration fee is $15 and family registration fee is $25. All riders are required to wear bicycle helmets.
For more information, please contact the NKFK at 1-800-737-5433 or lallgood@nkfk.org.
Lexington
The next Chapter meeting will be August 22, 2008 at 11:30am at the Kentucky Clinic Room J005. Lunch is provided. Anyone interested in learning more about the NKFK’s programs and services is welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Lisa Allgood at 800-737-5433 or lallgood@nkfk.org.
Gift of Life Gala 2008 Celebrates NKFK 40th Anniversary
The NKFK celebrated 40 years of service at the Gift of Life Gala in May with guests and the NKFK founders, Dr. Sidney Marcum and Dr. Will Ward . The Bluegrass Making Lives Better Award was presented to Dr. Ramsey N. Nassar of Nephrology Associates of Kentuckiana and Dr. Suzanne Ildstad of the University of Louisville for their extraordinary contributions to the field of nephrology and transplantation. Teresa Rhinn of the Kentucky Diabetes Prevention and Control Program accepted the Partnership Award for the Program’s work with the NKFK KEEP Program. A special thank you to all of our guests and sponsors for your generous support!
Turkey Fajitas
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Volunteer Spotlight: Brad Rives
Brad Rives has been an instrumental part of the success of the NKFK. His leadership as a Board Member and Chair of the NKF Golf Classic has resulted in more than one million dollars raised for the Foundation. We are grateful to have Brad’s support and appreciate his dedication.
Occupation: Chief Financial Officer, E.ON U.S.
How long have you been a volunteer for the NKFK? I have volunteered in various ways for the NKFK for more than 10 years, having chaired the NKFK Golf Classic for eight years and also having served two years on the Board of Directors as Treasurer.
What led you to become involved with the NKFK? Two factors led to my involvement with NKFK. First, a co-worker asked me to play in the Golf Classic and to become the co-chair of the event. More importantly, my father-in-law passed away only two weeks after my wife and I were married twenty five years ago from complications associated with end-stage renal disease. I thought my participation with NKFK could serve as a tribute to his life.
What is the importance of the NKFK mission to you? Kidney disease can become so debilitating if not treated early-on. To the extent we can educate people and screen those with risk factors, it is so much more treatable and their quality of life can be so much better.
Why is it important to volunteer? Many of us in the community are blessed with good health, good jobs and many opportunities. It is only natural that we seek to help others by sharing our time. I do not volunteer for any repayment or reward, but the smiles of those that have been helped are the greatest rewards one could receive.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The NKFK is a growing organization and has ample opportunity for its supporters to be actively involved. Here are some of our upcoming events that we can use your special talents and time!
- KEEP Screenings
- NKFK Golf Classic
- Kidney Walk
- CKD Education Program
- Patient Empowerment Program
- Health Fairs
To find out more about NKFK volunteer opportunities, please contact Laura Temple at 1- 800-737-5433 or email us.
Walk the Kidney Walk Way!One in 10 adults in Kentucky are living with kidney disease and most don’t even know it. To raise public awareness of the importance of early detection, especially for those people considered at risk, the NKFK is asking you to join in and help spread the word. And if that sounds like too great of a challenge, you might just think of it as a walk in the park. That’s because if you can walk, you can take part in a unique community event - the 8th Annual Kidney Walk in Louisville on September 20, 2008 which features a three mile route along Waterfront Park. “The Kidney Walk will draw attention to the importance of early detection for those at risk, and also raise funds to support programs for kidney patients and their families,” says Lisa Allgood, Executive Director. Participants of all ages are invited to join in the fun by walking individually or by forming a team. Each walker who raises $100 will receive an official Kidney Walk t-shirt. The event will feature Louisville School of Rock bands What’s Up and Creatures of Leisure, children’s activities, games. giveaways, and more! For more information, sponsor forms, or to register, contact Laura Temple at 502-585-5433 or email us or visit our Kidney Walk webpage at walk.kidney.org/kentucky. |
Congress Passes Medicare Bill with Kidney Education Initiative
Recognizing that an educated patient ultimately has better healthcare outcomes, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) teamed up on May 22 to urge lawmakers to pass a bill that would provide comprehensive treatment information to patients prior to the initiation of dialysis.
Forty kidney patients from around the U.S. met with their Members of Congress to discuss the inclusion of the Kidney Care Quality and Education Act (S. 691) in the Medicare bill that was recently passed by Congress. In particular, the patient advocates, representing NKF’s “People Like Us” patient empowerment initiative and DPC, requested the establishment of a Medicare pre-dialysis education benefit.
Two dialysis patients from Louisville went to Washington to speak with local Congressmen about supporting the Medicare legislation. Patient Advocate Crystal Gant and Andreas Price visited the offices of Kentucky Congressmen and shared with them the importance of pre-dialysis education in preparing patients for treatment. “When you’re used to living life a certain way, used to being able to come and go as you please, to be not concerned about major health issues and then to be told that you’re facing dialysis three times a week for several hours per treatment, it does shock you,” Andreas explains. “And our concern is that many of the patients go into the treatment situation without knowing what their options are, not knowing what to expect, and with a certain level of fear and anxiety about what they are facing.”
The pre-dialysis education benefit includes a maximum of six sessions, reimbursed by Medicare, covering an overview of kidney function, complications associated with declining kidney function, a comprehensive review of treatment options, including discussion of vascular access alternatives for dialysis, the transplant waiting list and the process of identifying living kidney donors.
The Medicare Legislation was passed on July 15, 2008 by the House of Representatives and Senate and was supported by both Democrats and Republicans. “Ultimately, we know this [legislation] will improve patients’ lives while reducing costs of care," says Tracy Fortson, NKF Managing Director of Constituent Services.
Kidney disease is a major health problem in the United States and around the world. Nearly 75,000 Americans are on the waiting list for a lifesaving kidney transplant and 341,000 rely on a dialysis machine to keep them alive. Recent studies indicate that the disease is on the rise and as many as 26 million Americans currently have chronic kidney disease and millions more are at risk.
Article and information from the National Kidney Foundation.
TAKE ACTION NOW! Thanks to your letters of support to our Congressmen, people facing treatment for kidney failure will now have the knowledge to make an informed decision about their health. Please take the time to thank our Representatives for their support of this vital legislation by visiting the Take Action website at www.kidney.org/takeaction. And if you are not a member of the network, please sign up! Your support strengthens our effort to make positive changes for the healthcare needs of those affected by kidney disease and organ donation. Learn more about other pressing legislative issues and pledge your support by visiting: www.kidney.org/takeaction |
NKFK Partners with Diabetes Program in Public Awareness Campaign
In partnership with the Diabetes Program of Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness and the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, the NKFK launched a diabetes and chronic kidney disease public awareness campaign in Jefferson County. The campaign warns the public of the risk diabetes poses to kidney health and urges early detection and treatment to delay the progression of kidney disease. Campaign materials included bus shelters, magnets, and pizza box stickers that urge the public to get tested for diabetes and kidney disease. Other awareness efforts included radio and print public service announcements. This will be the second year the NKFK has worked with the Diabetes Program on an awareness campaign.
The project was funded by the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program and the Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness. NKFK graphic designer volunteer, Michael Feger, designed the campaign materials.
For more information on kidney disease and the Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) , contact the NKFK at 502-585-5433. If you would like more information on diabetes management classes and other programs offered by the Diabetes Program in Metro Louisville, please call 574-6663.
Dean Kutz 5K Race for Organ and Tissue Donation Race Results
Overall Winners - Men |
Overall Winners - Women |
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Name |
Time |
Name |
Time |
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David Diffenderfer |
18:17 |
Renee’ Finnegan |
30:20 |
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Kevin Finnegan |
19:10 |
Karen Lederer |
33:00 |
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Troy Chester |
20:55 |
Jennifer Cox |
34:28 |
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Winners by Age- Men |
Winners by Age - Women |
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Name |
Age |
Name |
Age |
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Zack Morgan |
15-19 |
Paige Allen |
14 and under |
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Brian Schaffner |
30-34 |
Heather Allen |
30-34 |
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Patrick Lowe |
35-39 |
Molly Schaffner |
35-39 |
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John Hall |
40-44 |
Becky Gilbert |
40-44 |
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Rick Caffee |
45-49 |
Tracy D’Antoni |
45-49 |
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Raymond Allen |
50-54 |
Dorothy Sivelle |
50-54 |
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Alvin D. Wax |
65 and over |
Carol Moore |
55-59 |
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Beverly Allen |
65 and over |
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Congratulations!
Thanks to Pat & Sheila Day
for their support of the Dean Kutz 5K!!
You can save FIFTY LIVES! Sign the Kentucky Organ Donor Registry at www.donatelifeky.org!
A Publication of the National Kidney Foundation of Kentucky
