DENVER, March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita, a division
of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. (NYSE: DVA) and a leading
provider of kidney care services, is encouraging people who are at
risk for kidney disease to make a new resolution to learn and
understand their risk during National Kidney Month.
One in 10 adults age 20 or older in the U.S. has kidney disease,
but many people don't know they have it or that they are even at
risk because the disease is often symptomless. Kidney disease is
one of the few chronic illnesses that can be slowed down or in some
cases even prevented when caught early enough.
Take a short quiz to learn your risk for kidney disease at
DaVita.com/LearnYourRisk.
People at risk for kidney disease include those with diabetes
and high blood pressure, as well as older adults, Hispanics,
African-Americans and American Indians. Other risk factors for
kidney disease include cardiovascular disease, obesity, high
cholesterol, lupus and a family history of the disease.
In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention:
- One in three people with diabetes has kidney disease.
- One in five people with high blood pressure has kidney
disease.
- African-Americans are about three and a half times more likely
to develop kidney failure than whites.
- Hispanics are one and a half times more likely to develop
kidney failure than non-Hispanics.
The first step in managing kidney disease is to know the risk
factors. For those at increased risk, a simple blood test from a
doctor can confirm the disease.
"Everybody should get tested for kidney disease at least three
or four times a year," said West Louis, an African-American high
school basketball coach and peritoneal dialysis patient. "If I
would have gotten myself tested, I wouldn't be in the situation
that I'm in now. I regret that I didn't do that."
Louis developed kidney disease due to high blood pressure and
didn't know he had the disease until his kidneys had already
failed. He now dialyzes at home and maintains his coaching schedule
with help from his wife.
For those already living with kidney disease, DaVita shares some
lifestyle tips to promote good kidney health:
- Stay informed – Make an effort to learn as much as possible
about kidney disease to make educated decisions about next steps.
Sign up for a no-cost Kidney Smart® class in your area to learn
directly from a kidney disease educator at DaVita.com/KSClass.
- Stay positive – Take care of your health, find support and
continue to engage with family and friends. Join myDaVita.com to
share stories, gain insights and make connections at
DaVita.com/JoinMyDaVita.
- Seek guidance – Ask your doctor about ways to slow the
progression of kidney disease and figure out the best way to manage
it. Find a kidney doctor at DaVita.com/FAD.
- Work, if possible – Working while on dialysis has both physical
and emotional benefits, including lower rates of depression, fewer
hospitalizations and higher scores on general health and vitality
tests. Find out more at DaVita.com/WorkingBenefits.
- Take charge of your health – Diet can help slow the progression
of kidney disease. In addition to 1,000-plus kidney-friendly
recipes, DaVita Diet Helper™ offers a way to track potassium,
phosphorus and sodium levels. Learn more at
DaVita.com/MyDietHelper.
DaVita, DaVita HealthCare Partners and Kidney Smart are
trademarks or registered trademarks of DaVita HealthCare Partners
Inc.
About DaVita
DaVita is the dialysis division of DaVita
HealthCare Partners Inc., a Fortune 500® company that, through its
operating divisions, provides a variety of health care services to
patient populations throughout the United
States and abroad. A leading provider of kidney care in
the United States, DaVita delivers
dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end
stage renal disease. DaVita strives to improve patients' quality of
life by innovating clinical care, and by offering integrated
treatment plans, personalized care teams and convenient
health-management services. As of Dec. 31,
2013, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at
2,074 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately
163,000 patients. The company also operated 73 outpatient dialysis
centers located in ten countries outside the United States. DaVita supports numerous
programs dedicated to creating positive, sustainable change in
communities around the world. The company's leadership development
initiatives and social responsibility efforts have been recognized
by Fortune, Modern Healthcare, Newsweek and WorldBlu. For more
information, please visit DaVita.com.
Contact Information
Media:
David Gilles
(303) 876-7497
david.gilles@davita.com
Photo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140303/LA75036-INFO-a
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140303/LA75036LOGO-b
SOURCE DaVita