AMHERST TIMES
March is Kidney Month, a good time to consider the health of your kidneys. The Kidney Foundation of WNY will hold a free kidney screening event at the Amherst Center for Senior Services on March 22.
The kidneys filter waste and excess water from the blood. Damage to the kidneys, known as chronic kidney disease, can cause waste to build up and other health problems to develop.
Approximately 15 percent of U.S. adults have chronic kidney disease, according to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control. The Kidney Foundation of WNY warns that kidney disease may have no signs or symptoms in its early stages, so many people may not know they have it. Specific tests can allow medical professionals to diagnose and monitor kidney disease.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of chronic kidney disease. Other risk factors include heart disease, obesity, lupus, family history of kidney disease, and high cholesterol. Age also plays a role in kidney function; after the age of 40, kidney filtration starts to fall by about one percent per year. The Centers for Disease Control states that in addition to the natural aging of the kidneys, many conditions that damage the kidneys are more common in older people including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. If you have one or more risk factors, talk with your doctor about your kidney health.
The screening will take place on Thursday, March 22 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Amherst Center for Senior Services (370 James John Audubon Parkway, Amherst, NY 14228). To register, please contact Barbara Breckenridge at 716-512- 7918 or bbreckenridge@kfwny.org.
Originally published on Amherst Times. Republished with permission.
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