March is Kidney Health Awareness Month

Take the pledge and commit to keeping your kidneys safe and healthy during the pandemic.

BALTIMORE, March 1, 2021 / PRNewswire/ -- The Urology Care Foundation, the official Foundation of the American Urological Association, is calling on the public to make a commitment to the health of their kidneys – especially during COVID-19 - by taking a pledge and sharing it with others at www.urologyhealth.org/kidneyhealth.

The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs that are about the size of a small fist and sit on each side of the spine, above your waist. Their primary job is to cleanse your blood of toxins or waste and filter it out of your body through your urine. They also help make red blood cells, maintain a balance of salt and other nutrients in your body, keep your bones healthy and help to control your blood pressure.

1 in 3 American adults are at risk for kidney disease. Kidney disease is known as the "silent epidemic" because if often shows no signs until it is more advanced. High blood pressure and diabetes are two leading causes of kidney disease. Other risk factors include heart disease, obesity, high cholesterol and a family history. Older adults, Hispanics, African Americans and American Indians are at a higher risk for developing kidney disease.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, there have been reports of nonelderly adults infected with COVID-19 who have developed an acute kidney injury (AKI) — sudden loss of kidney function. These adults did not have underlying medical conditions. With proper treatment, including dialysis in severe cases, AKI can be reversible.

A few simple ways to keep your kidneys safe and functioning properly include:

• Keep active and fit
• Control blood sugar
• Monitor blood pressure
• Monitor weight and eat healthy
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Stop smoking
• Have kidney function tested if at high risk

“Your kidneys take care of you every day by cleaning your blood. Take the pledge to take care of your kidneys by making positive changes in your daily routine that will help keep your kidneys healthy,” said Harris M. Nagler, MD, President of the Urology Care Foundation. “If you are at risk for kidney stones, cancer or disease, talk to you doctor about lifestyle and dietary changes you can make to help catch certain conditions at an early stage or to prevent them altogether.”

Kidney Stones: Kidney stones are the reason for more than 500,000 emergency department visits per year. A kidney stone is a hard object that is made from chemicals in the urine. Common symptoms include severe pain in lower back, blood in your urine, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, or urine that smells bad or looks cloudy. Both adults and children as young as 5 years old can get kidney stones.

Kidney Stones: Kidney stones are the reason for more than 500,000 emergency department visits per year. A kidney stone is a hard object that is made from chemicals in the urine. Common symptoms include severe pain in lower back, blood in your urine, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, or urine that smells bad or looks cloudy. Both adults and children as young as 5 years old can get kidney stones.

Kidney Cancer: About 76,000 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed and approximately 13,800 people will die from this disease in 2021. Kidney cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the kidney when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. The average age of people when they are diagnosed is 64. Kidney cancer is about twice as common in men than in women and it is more common in African Americans and American Indian /Alaska Natives.

In observance of Kidney Health Awareness Month, the Urology Care Foundation encourages the public to learn their risk factors for kidney disease and other kidney-related conditions and download free educational materials at www.urologyhealth.org.

About the Urology Care Foundation: The Urology Care Foundation is the world's leading nonprofit urological health foundation, and the official foundation of the American Urological Association. Partnering with physicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, families and the public, the Foundation supports and improves urologic clinical care by funding research, developing patient education and pursuing philanthropic support. To learn more about the Urology Care Foundation and its programs visit: www.urologyhealth.org.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology and has nearly 24,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy. www.AUAnet.org.

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