Latest news with #NationalKidneyMonth
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The KidneyMobile returns to Peoria for free kidney screenings
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The KidneyMobile is back in Peoria to raise awareness about kidney diseases. March is National Kidney Month. Representatives from The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois set up inside the Carver Community Center for free screenings for kidney disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. The organization's senior director of marketing and communications said one in three adults are at risk for chronic kidney disease. 'Kidney disease is one of those silent killers. It doesn't have a lot of early symptoms. So if you don't know you have the disease, it could be progressing, and then you find yourself suddenly on dialysis or in need of a transplant. And we want to avoid that. We want people to know early in the process that they have maybe something going on, some elevated numbers so they can change their diet, change their exercise, make some simple lifestyle changes,' said Sara Jane Castro. She recommends watching your sugar and sodium intake, especially if you have high blood pressure or diabetes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Port Richey father battles kidney disease while searching for donor
The Brief A New Port Richey father is battling kidney disease as he searches for a donor. His daughter GiGi is his constant motivation to find a living donor, since nobody in his extended family qualified. To be a kidney donor, you generally need to be at least 18 years old, in good physical and mental health, and free of certain medical conditions. NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - March marks National Kidney Month; a time to raise awareness about kidney diseases, like polycystic kidney disease. According to the National Kidney Foundation, about half a million people in the United States are battling it. One of them is Dennis Santino of New Port Richey. The backstory Over a decade ago, 49-year-old Santino went to the emergency room for intense back pain while on vacation with his daughter Gigi. He never could've imagined he'd receive life-changing news. "They came in and said, 'we've got good news, and we got bad news,'" Santino recalled. "The good news is there's nothing wrong with your back. The bad news is you have an incurable kidney disease that we found, and that's what's causing the pain. What they diagnosed me with was polycystic kidney disease, which is hereditary kidney disease. Basically, what happens is, over time, cysts start to form until your kidney is completely taken over by the cysts." Dennis tried everything from experimental drug trials to changing his diet in order to avoid dialysis over the last ten years, but his doctors say soon, he may not have a choice. "Renal failure is 15 and below. I'm at an eight. "So, the next step for me is eventually dialysis," Santino added. Even though they're pushing for treatment he can do at home, it's still not sustainable as a single father with a full-time, labor-intensive job. "I have a 15-year-old daughter. I can't be in my room from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for the rest of my life," Santino said. His daughter GiGi is his constant motivation to find a living donor, since nobody in his extended family qualified. READ: Bay Area widow honors husband who died of brain cancer, Moffitt patients with inspirational rock garden Big picture view In December 2024, he was put on the national transplant waitlist but was advised it could be years before he gets a call. "There are, I believe, close to 90,000 patients in the nation on the national waitlists to get a kidney transplant," said TGH's Dr. Hunter Witt. Dr. Hunter Witt is an abdominal transplant surgeon at the TGH Transplant Institute, and says living kidney donations are a crucial solution. READ: Cancer survivor shares message as doctors see more cases among young men Their program allows friends, relatives or even an anonymous person to donate a kidney to help someone in need. "We also participate in a program called the National Kidney Registry," Dr. Witt explained. Other hospitals throughout the nation are also in this program. So, a loved one might not be a match for someone needing a kidney transplant, but they might be a match for someone in New Hampshire or Arizona and that person might have a loved one who's a match." To be a kidney donor, you generally need to be at least 18 years old, in good physical and mental health, and free of certain medical conditions. Tests and consultations are conducted first, where those interested can learn more, and ask questions. Dr. Witt says his team answers this question a lot: "Yes, kidney donors live just as long as patients who haven't donated their kidneys," Dr. Witt laughed. "We get that all the time. Of the thousands of people in America in the past 30, 40 years who have donated their kidneys, there's been no observable change in total lifespan." That's why people like Santino are anxiously hoping their match is out there. "I have a beautiful 15-year-old daughter that makes me smile every day," Santino said with tears in his eyes. "I'm all she's got. She's all I got. And that right there is more than enough reason to be sitting here with you and begging somebody to say, 'hey, let me keep waking up to this.' You know, most people run from teenagers. I want to live with one." If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a donor, the TGH transplant institute's website has educational guides, along with a questionnaire you can fill out, and phone numbers you can call for more information. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Regina Gonzalez. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Specialists at Horizon Health speak on National Kidney Month
PARIS, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) — March is National Kidney Month, a time where communities bring awareness to the issue of kidney disease. At Horizon Health, residents are getting the help they need at their dialysis center. Amanada Bauer, Manager at Horizon Health Dialysis Center, said the center does blood work for patients whose kidneys no longer meet their body's needs. 'Dialysis provides filtering for the blood with end-stage renal disease', Bauer said. 'There are multiple stages of kidney disease, and this is the end stage, whenever they are on dialysis, they go through renal replacement therapy.' Patients with kidney disease must attend the center continuously to stay healthy. 'We will do dialysis, hemodialysis, on outpatients three days a week', Bauer said. 'Times range anywhere from three to four hours, three days a week.' Registered Dietician for Horizon Health, Brianne Turner, said the first stages of kidney disease are often silent, with no symptoms. At that time, diet becomes extremely important. 'We pay attention to sodium, fluid, phosphorus, potassium, and protein', Turner said. 'Especially when your kidneys are not working properly and filtering toxins out, it leads to a buildup of those chemicals in your body, so your body is not able to process them and get rid of them. Limiting them in your diet is really important.' Bauer said, like most diseases, constant monitoring and early treatment are the best way to prevent health issues. 'Awareness to follow up with a PCP, follow up with your nephrologist, keep appointments, do testing', Bauer said. 'It is really about managing risk factors and prevention of progression of the disease.' Dialysis Specialists at Horizon Health said most people are unaware that they have chronic kidney disease until their health is affected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Local family shares story to bring awareness to National Kidney Month
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — National Kidney Month is observed annually in March to raise awareness about kidney disease and promote kidney health. It also celebrates those who have overcome and survived adversity with kidneys and kidney transplants. Laura Smith, the owner of the Biscuit and the Bean in Winterville, is an advocate for kidney awareness and organ donations. Her son donated his kidney to their father and she has continued to praise organ donation ever since. 'There's so many people that have needs and waiting on a kidney or waiting on a liver, or any organ you need. It's very vital to get the information out. To check on and to be a donor is about 30 seconds of your time and it just changes someone's life whether you're deceased or living donor,' said Smith. Smith also helped high school basketball coach William Knight spread the word about his need for a kidney transplant. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
04-03-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Nation's Kidney Community Calls for Urgent Policy Action During National Kidney Month to Improve Kidney Care
Kidney Care Partners (KCP) – the nation's largest non-profit, non-partisan kidney care coalition dedicated to protecting access to care and comprised of more than 30 organizations, including patients, dialysis professionals, physicians, nurses, researchers, therapeutic innovators, transplant coordinators, and manufacturers – in recognition of National Kidney Month is highlighting its 2025 policy priorities to address longstanding systemic challenges to ensure access to high-quality kidney care for the nearly 40 million Americans living with kidney disease. 'Given the new Congress, new administration and urgent kidney care needs, we recognize this is a unique moment to tackle some of the challenges our broader community continues to face,' said Mahesh Krishnan, MD, MPH, MBA, Chair of Kidney Care Partners. 'We are calling on policymakers to join us and implement meaningful and measurable solutions to improve care innovation, expand access to care and protect patient choice.' Key areas where KCP is calling for solutions include: 1. Restoring Patient Coverage Choice: Congress should introduce and pass legislation to restore the public-private partnership intended to support our nation's dialysis infrastructure by helping to maintain patient choice and protect access to essential care. 2. Incentivize ESRD Care Innovations: The current limited 'transitional period' for new technologies is stifling innovation in kidney care. By addressing gaps with the current adjustments and improving collaboration between policymakers and innovators in both the traditional Medicare and Medicaid Advantage programs, we can help ensure that life-saving advancements reach patients and that continued investment is incentivized in this space. 3. Fixing Medicare's ESRD Prospective Payment System (PPS): Dialysis providers are being hit especially hard by ongoing workforce challenges. This issue is only exacerbated by outdated payment forecasting errors. Correcting these errors and ensuring adequate reimbursement will allow dialysis providers to help stabilize their workforce while also improving patient access to life-sustaining dialysis treatment. 'National Kidney Month is rightfully a time to raise awareness of kidney disease and encourage disease screening for at-risk populations, but it is also time for policymakers to take meaningful action to support our broader kidney community,' concluded Krishnan. 'We look forward to partnering with those willing to address and improve care for the long term.' Sarah Feagan 616-560-2059
