Kidney disease
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The following six (6) articles about Kidney Disease and Dialysis were supplied by News Canada.
Kidney disease affecting Canadians in record numbers
(NC)-Every day in Canada, an average of 14 people are told their kidneys have failed, and the number is growing. An aging population, and a growing incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease - major risk factors - are among the reasons why there is a seven per cent increase in the number of people diagnosed with kidney disease each year.
According to Dr. Michael Copland, Chair of The Kidney Foundation of Canada's Medical Advisory Committee, one of the challenges of diagnosing and treating kidney disease is that people experience few symptoms at its earliest and most treatable stage. He estimates that as many as 1.9 million Canadians may have kidney damage, but many aren't aware their health is at risk.
Common causes of kidney disease
Although there is no single cause, kidney disease most commonly affects people who have:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- A family history of kidney disease
- A history of heart attack, stroke, or other blood vessel disease
- First Nations or Asian ancestry
- Reached 50 years of age or older
"People at higher risk for developing kidney disease need to pay close attention to their kidney function levels," says Dr. Copland. "Regular monitoring of the kidneys through simple blood and urine tests can show how well the kidneys are functioning. These tests also allow people to gauge their risk for developing kidney failure in the future."
Fortunately, many cases of kidney failure can be delayed - or prevented - through early detection and intervention. The Kidney Foundation of Canada offers a range of educational programs that explain how to help preserve kidney function and better manage the conditions that may lead to kidney disease. Visit www.kidney.ca for more information.
Kidney disease - just the facts
(NC)-Kidney disease can strike anyone at any age.
- It is estimated that 1.9 million Canadians have chronic kidney disease - most don't know it because symptoms are silent.
- Each day, an average of 14 Canadians learns that their kidneys have failed.
- If kidney failure is not treated, people die within days or weeks.
- In 2003, there were 29,551 Canadians on renal replacement therapy and this number is expected to double over the next 10 years.
- Over half of all new patients in 2003 were 65 years or older.
- The three leading causes of kidney failure in new patients are: Diabetes - 34%;
Renal Vascular Disease (including high blood pressure) - 19%; Glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the tiny filters in the kidney which clean the blood) - 13%.
- The sale and purchase of organs for transplant is illegal in Canada.
- Of the 4,054 Canadians on the waiting list for a transplant (as of December 2004), 2,872 were awaiting a kidney transplant.
- Of the 1,013 kidney transplants performed in 2004, 41% were from living donors.
- 59 children received a kidney transplant in 2004; 36 were living donations.
- Since 1964, The Kidney Foundation has awarded more than $73 million to support kidney-related research. Visit www.kidney.ca for more information.
Your health: Putting the brakes on high blood pressure
(NC)-Did you know that high blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure, right behind diabetes? Experts estimate that one in five adults has high blood pressure, but as many as one-third of them don't know it.
One of the challenges in managing high blood pressure is that many people experience no symptoms even when their pressure reaches dangerously high levels. The relationship between high blood pressure and kidney function is a close and complex one. Kidney disease can cause high blood pressure, and it can also be a result of high blood pressure.
As blood pumps through the body, it presses against the walls of the blood vessels. In cases of high blood pressure, extra fluid in the body and narrow or clogged veins put more pressure on blood vessels. This makes the heart work harder to move blood throughout the body, which can lead to more damage to blood vessels. If the blood vessels in the kidneys are damaged, kidney function can be reduced or destroyed, making blood pressure levels climb even higher. There are many ways to help keep your blood pressure in check, including:
- Limiting the amount of salt in your diet
- Drinking alcohol only in moderation
- Keeping your weight within healthy limits
- Exercising regularly
- Managing stress effectively
If lifestyle changes alone are not enough, there are many types of medications available that will help you reach your goal of good blood pressure control. Talk to your doctor about the medication that is right for you. The Kidney Foundation of Canada has developed a free pamphlet on managing and understanding high blood pressure and kidney disease. Visit www.kidney.ca for more information.
Canadian seniors most affected by rise in kidney disease
(NC)-Kidney disease is a growing public health concern in Canada, and nowhere is the impact felt more strongly than among seniors.
According to recent statistics from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, one in four people starting treatment for kidney failure in 2003 was 75 or older, compared to one in seven in 1994.
"We're seeing many people in their 70s and 80s with some degree of kidney damage who are referred to us by their family doctor," affirms Dr. Bruce Culleton, a Calgary nephrologist and kidney researcher. Dr. Culleton is part of an ongoing study funded by The Kidney Foundation of Canada that examines the relationship between kidney disease and other variables among the elderly, including age, heart disease, access to medical care and compliance with medications.
"Timely diagnosis and treatment are key," he adds. "In many cases, if kidney damage is discovered in its early stages, it's possible to avoid or at least delay the need for treatments like dialysis and transplantation."
Dr. Culleton recommends people with diabetes and high blood pressure manage their conditions carefully and have their kidney function tested annually. "Good control of diabetes and high blood pressure can significantly improve the likelihood of living a longer, healthier life."
Visit www.kidney.ca for more information.
Dialysis today won't interfere with a busy life
(NC)-At the age of five, Daniel Broome was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. By the age of 15, his kidneys went into renal failure. At 17, Daniel underwent a kidney transplant to replace the two kidneys that were no longer functioning.
Seventeen years later, doctors found a cancerous tumor in the transplanted kidney and it was removed. After six weeks of recovery time, Dan started peritoneal dialysis, a treatment that replaces the work of failed kidneys by cleaning the blood and removing wastes and excess water from the body.
During a treatment, the inside of the abdomen, or peritoneal cavity, is filled with dialysis fluid, which enters the body through an implanted catheter. The peritoneal cavity is lined with a membrane called the peritoneum, which allows excess water and wastes to pass through the blood into the dialysis fluid. This fluid is then drained from the body and discarded.
Since peritoneal dialysis treatments can be performed almost anywhere in as little as 30 minutes a few times a day or while sleeping at night, Dan, a 37-year-old record executive, continues to travel frequently for business and leisure, and is able to maintain his hectic - and enjoyable - life. Dan can depend on Baxter Corporation, one of Canada's leading providers of products and services for kidney dialysis, to provide the supplies he needs for his dialysis all over the country and in most countries around the world.
Dialysis delivers the best seat in the house
(NC)-In 2002, Tom Houghton was referred to a kidney specialist after blood tests during a routine physical exam showed high levels of potassium. After a series of additional tests, the specialist confirmed that Tom's kidneys were no longer functioning.
Tom's twin sister offered him a kidney. However, due to their age, a kidney transplant was not an option. Tom and his sister recently celebrated their 83rd birthday.
The specialist recommended that Tom undergo peritoneal dialysis, a treatment that replaces the work of failed kidneys by cleaning the blood and removing wastes and excess water from the body.
During a treatment, the inside of the abdomen, or peritoneal cavity, is filled with dialysis fluid, which enters the body through an implanted catheter. The peritoneal cavity is lined with a membrane called the peritoneum, which allows excess water and wastes to pass through the blood into the dialysis fluid. This fluid is then drained from the body and discarded.
Since peritoneal dialysis treatments can be performed almost anywhere in as little as 30 minutes a few times a day or while sleeping at night, Tom continues to travel and live life to the fullest. Tom can depend on Baxter Corporation, one of Canada's leading providers of products and services for kidney dialysis, to provide the supplies he needs for his dialysis all over the country and in most countries around the world.
Tom, a theatre buff, travels often with theatre groups and most recently, spent a week in Dublin, Ireland catching the latest theatre productions.
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