Kidney Facts & Treatments:

Incidence of Kidney Disease Increasing

This information is not meant to alarm you but to inform you. The number of patients with kidney failure is increasing. It is important to remember that while the progression of kidney disease usually cannot be reversed, it can be slowed.

Two leading causes of kidney failure leading to the need for dialysis are diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension). Intensive control of diabetes and high blood pressure can prevent or delay the onset of kidney failure.

Some of the warning signs of kidney disease for which you should seek medical attention include:

• Change in the frequency of urination.
• Loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting.
• Swelling or numbness of hands and feet.
• Fatigue, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating.
• Muscle cramps.
• Elevated blood pressure.
• Elevated blood Creatinine (1.5 or higher).
• Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) > 20 mg/dl.
• If urine makes foam in the toilet.
• Blood in the urine (rust or tea-colored urine).

(This is not intended to be an all inclusive list but a sampling of some warning signs.)

Making your Kidneys Last Longer

Although some kidney diseases cannot be cured, if detected early, you may be able to make your kidneys last longer by taking certain steps, such as:

• If you are a diabetic, watch your blood sugar carefully and keep it under control.
• Keep your blood pressue under control through the use of hypertensive medications prescribed and monitored by your family physician.
• Improve your diet - lower saturated fat, cholesterol and salt. Some people must further change their diets to lower protein, sugar, potassium and phosphorus.

Working with a Nephrologist

Seeing a Nephrologist (a doctor who specializes in kidney disease) regularly, in addition to regular visits to your family physician is of vital importance in the management and control of your kidney disease.

At Hershey Kidney Specialists, Inc. (HKSI) our Nephrologists and nurse practioner are dedicated to providing specialized care in the medical management of your disease. Drs. Diamond, Bell, Vaddineni, and Shah collectively have more than 40 years experience in treating patients with kidney disease and hypertension.

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Kidney Treatments:

Photo courtesy of National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health