March is National Kidney Month, a time for focusing on kidney health as a nation. Kidney disease is a health crisis in the U.S., affecting nearly 37 million people, according to the National Kidney Foundation. This month is a time to learn, discuss, and share stories with those around us as we focus on kidney disease and health.
Kidney Equity for All
At Innovative Renal Care, we are committed to innovative patient care that meets today’s challenges and creates solutions. One challenge facing many with kidney disease is a lack of access to care, from diagnosis to transplantation. Our goal at IRC is summarized well in the theme of this year’s National Kidney Month: Kidney Equity for All.
Health disparities affect many with kidney disease in the U.S. Socioeconomic and cultural factors can create barriers to equitable care. Ensuring patients are diagnosed and receive care early in the course of chronic kidney disease is critical in slowing disease progression and improving outcomes.
We envision a world where people of all ages, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds have equal access to care. We at Innovative Renal Care are committed to the goal of kidney health equity as we foster inclusive and equitable care.
What Can You Do?
Everyone can play a part in fostering kidney health. It may be hard to know where to start. Here are just a few ways you can take an active role in promoting kidney health:
Join the Organ Donor Registry
By signing up to be an organ donor, you can provide a kidney (and other organs) to someone in need in the event of your death. You may also consider signing up to be a living donor. If you are eligible, you could donate one of your kidneys either to someone you know or someone you do not. Your generous donation could truly change the life of someone with kidney disease.
Donate to a Kidney Non-profit
Many non-profit organizations are working to improve kidney disease treatment in various ways. These groups may work to facilitate kidney donations, fund research, provide support, pass legislation, and expand awareness. The National Kidney Foundation is one such organization, and there are many others.
Your donations make a difference by enabling non-profit groups to work for improvements in kidney disease prevention and care.
Be Good to Your Kidneys: Visit Your Provider
Doing your part in fostering kidney health includes taking time for you. Prevention and early diagnosis are the most important keys to kidney health.
Your kidneys are vital organs that filter your blood, regulate blood pressure, maintain bone health, and control fluid and electrolyte balance. Damage to your kidneys may go unnoticed for a long time, but the impact on your health can be devastating. Damaged kidneys cannot do their job properly, and chronic kidney disease may progress to end-stage renal disease, which is fatal without dialysis or transplantation.
Two common causes of kidney disease include diabetes and high blood pressure. Both conditions are prevalent in the U.S., and both cause progressive kidney damage if not treated. Your provider can screen you for high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes and help you take steps to prevent these conditions. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, these conditions can be treated and managed in partnership with your provider to prevent complications, including kidney damage.
There are other causes of kidney disease, including autoimmune or genetic conditions, liver disease, obesity, and cancer. Your provider is an invaluable resource in helping to detect health issues, manage them, and optimize kidney health. Be good to your kidneys and see your doctor or provider today.
Let’s Improve Kidney Health for All
We invite you to join Innovative Renal Care in celebrating National Kidney Month. Whether you take time to learn about kidney disease, donate to a non-profit, consider organ donation, or get involved in other ways, you can truly make a difference. Together, we can build a brighter future for kidney health.
