March is National Kidney Month. It’s designed to raise awareness of the statistics and realities regarding kidney disease. Has your dad been told his kidney health isn’t ideal? Here are four facts you should know.
1 in 7 Adults Have Chronic Kidney Disease
One in every seven adults in the U.S. has chronic kidney disease. It’s a health issue where the kidneys have been damaged to a point that they no longer filter the blood effectively.
That’s 15% of the adult population in the U.S. and is far more common than you might think. Worse, 90% of people with kidney disease don’t even realize they have it, and 40% of adults with severe kidney disease don’t realize it, either.
High Blood Pressure and Diabetes Are Prevalent Risk Factors
If your dad has high blood pressure or diabetes, his risk of kidney disease raises by 20%. He needs to see his doctor regularly and have his blood pressure tested. An A1C blood test to check his sugar levels is also recommended.
When he’s diagnosed with either of these, he needs to take care of himself. Keeping his blood pressure low and managing his blood sugar levels is essential. This may mean seeing his doctor more often and taking medications. A skilled nursing care provider can help manage his levels and make sure he is taking the proper dosage of medication at the recommended intervals.
Chronic Kidney Disease Impacts Your Health
People with chronic kidney disease often have a harder time fighting off infections. Your dad’s doctor may require him to get a specific flu shot each year to avoid having the vaccine that contains the live virus.
He’s more likely to develop anemia and have a low level of red cells in his blood. His calcium levels may be too low, while potassium and phosphorus levels are too high.
Social and Environmental Factors Can Impact Kidney Health
Social factors are known to increase the risk of kidney disease. Diet is one of them. If your dad lived in an area where food insecurity was prevalent or if his income kept him from being able to afford healthy foods, the risk of kidney disease was higher.
The environment your dad was in also impacts kidney health. If he had a job that had him working with a lot of chemicals or fumes, it can impact his kidney health. Contaminated water, air pollution, and soil contamination also play a part.
Kidney Care At Home
When your dad has kidney disease and needs hemodialysis treatments, ask his doctor about home treatments. With training, he can take care of his dialysis treatments at home. A skilled nursing care professional can help with the set-up of catheters and monitor possible infections if he notices his skin becoming inflamed.
Learn more about skilled nursing care by talking to a specialist in home health care. Your dad can take care of his kidneys in the comfort of his home. He just needs to make sure he’s doing everything correctly and taking measures to maintain a sterile environment when he’s setting up his home treatment.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Skilled Nursing Care in Gainesville, VA please contact the caring staff at Passion Home Health Solutions LLC today at. 703-462-9141
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