March is Kidney Month - Be Aware!

Watch Seymour Jones and the Temple of Chronic Kidney Disease, and increase your kidney awareness!   E-mail this page to a friend!

Produced by Renal Support Network
Directed by Stephen Furst
Starring Dan Ponsky

Do you Know your Kidney Stuff?  Take this quiz to find out how much you know!   

Show this film to your group. 
Order a DVD (not for personal use).

26 MILLION AMERICANS ARE IN EARLY STAGES OF KIDNEY FAILURE.

20 MILLION MORE ARE AT RISK OF DEVELOPING IT AND DON’T KNOW IT.

DID YOU KNOW... ?
• Early diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) dramatically slows its course giving you a longer, more healthful life. (See Kidney Times article #281 by Dean Kujubu, MD)
• There are specific things you and your loved one can do to prevent or delay the onset of CKD.
• CKD is a progressive loss of kidney function over time and doesn’t go away by itself.
• The three main causes of chronic kidney disease are DIABETES (45% of new cases), HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (30% of new cases) and OBESITY

If you have any of these causes, see your doctor and get an estimated GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) assessment based on a simple blood test.

Are you at risk?
Do you have…
 Swelling or numbness in feet, ankles, or hands
 Changes in urination (frequency, color, foam in urine)
 Fatigue and lack of energy
 Difficulty concentrating, mental confusion
 Headaches
 Itchy skin
 Muscle twitching, especially in legs
 Loss of appetite
 Metallic taste in the mouth
 Nausea and/or vomiting
 Insomnia
 Changes in skin color (yellowish tint)
 Fragile bones

If you or someone you know exhibits these symptoms, it is important to get tested for kidney disease promptly. Remember, the signs and symptoms listed above may be due to other factors, but only your healthcare provider can give you an accurate diagnosis.