March is National Kidney Month

For our team at Northeast Nephrology, your trusted nephrologists in Akron, Ohio, everyday is kidney health awareness day. Our nephrology doctors and staff take great care to help patients achieve better kidney health, and are dedicated to their work. So when a whole month dedicated to kidney health and disease awareness comes around, we’re beyond excited! These small organs do a lot to help us maintain our overall health–let’s learn how to help them perform their best for years to come!

What Is National Kidney Month?

In the United States, March has been named National Kidney Month and every year the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and more specifically, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), puts forth extra effort to raise the country’s awareness about kidney disease. The focus of this year’s outreach campaign is urging folks to take charge of their kidney health while getting to know and understand the countless factors that contribute to effective kidney disease management.

During the month of March the NIDDK will be advocating for kidney health awareness by recommending several key actions and healthy lifestyle habits for kidney patients to take. These include:

• Meeting regularly with kidney doctors and other health care providers

• Understanding personal risk factors

• Managing blood pressure and monitoring blood glucose levels

• Taking medicine as prescribed and avoiding NSAIDs

• Aiming for a healthy weight and meal plan

• Reducing stress and increasing physical activity and water intake

• Making time for adequate sleep

• Quitting smoking

When combined, these lifestyle changes can go far to helping kidney patients improve their current and future renal health. Learning how to improve and maintain kidney health is vital for everyone, but especially for individuals who may deal with common and chronic kidney conditions. 

Many people are at risk for kidney disease, but may have no idea how to improve their kidney health or reduce their chance of serious illness. And many do not even realize that their kidneys are suffering until the situation has worsened significantly. The first step is to ask your doctor for a kidney screening to check several indicators. If you are dealing with a kidney condition and need help with treatment, please contact us to learn more about our nephrology doctors and the available treatment options we offer.