Chances are you or someone you know is at risk for kidney disease a disease that strikes one in six Americans and can start with no warning signs. Seniors over the age of 60 are at an even greater risk for kidney disease, which is why it is important you know how to get tested and what steps you can take to take to combat this chronic disease. Kidneys filter your blood, removing wastes, excess salt and water, says Dr. Steve Fox of Pikes Peak Nephrology Associates. Diseased kidneys have reduced capacity to remove wastes from the blood, damaging the body. If not treated, kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, requiring dialysis. But you can potentially prevent kidney failure by managing risk factors.Who is at risk?31 million Americans, 1 in 6 adults, have chronic kidney disease20 million are at increased rate for kidney failurePrimary risk factors include diabetes, hypertension and family history of kidney diseaseHigh-risk groups include African-Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans Seniors over the age of 60It is important to see your primary care physician if you are at risk for kidney disease. In addition there are steps you can take to improve your overall health which can have a positive impact on your kidneys health. The National Kidney Foundation suggests the following:1. Don't smoke. The easiest modifiable risk factor for both kidney and heart disease is smoking.2. Control your blood pressure. High blood pressure causes both kidney and heart disease.3. Eat a proper diet. Adding more vegetables and lean proteins and decreasing salt and sugars can keep you healthy. 4. Maintain a healthy body weight. This requires balancing calorie intake with exercise and activity.5. Have your physician test you for kidney disease. Ask your primary care physician to check your glomerular filtration rate, which and tells how well your kidneys are filtering. Also, a urine test checks for albumin in your urine. Albumin is a protein that can pass into the urine when the kidneys are damaged.Dr. Fox says, If you or someone you know is at risk - encourage them to speak to their doctor about being screened for possible kidney disease.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Alia Henson for Liberty Dialysis. For further information please contact Liberty Dialysis at 877-684-5008

Dialysis is the process of filtering waste from a patients body when the kidneys no longer function. A dialyzer, also considered an artificial kidney, is the tool that helps filter waste from a patients blood. When dialysis providers use the same dialyzer multiple times on the same patient, the process is called reuse. Reuse is considered a controversial practice in nephrology and many providers choose single use dialyzers for their patients.Dialyzer reprocessing, when done properly, has shown minimal risk to patients mortality and morbidity. However, many nephrologists factor in human error which can affect the process of reuse and expose patients to potential infections and cross-contamination.Exposure to infections is one of the most prominent risks facing dialysis patients. Care must be taken in all aspects of treatment to ensure that equipment has been properly disinfected, staff and patients adhere to rigorous hygiene standards, and water systems are properly maintained and monitored. Reuse of dialyzers, is considered a cost effective tool, but many physicians feel that exposing patients to possible contamination is a risk not worth taking.Providers that administer reuse must adhere to the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) guidelines and follow a series of steps before reusing a dialyzer on a patient. Many nephrologists feel the amount of time needed to safely handle reuse dialyzers takes away needed time with the patient.In addition, research shows that a number of providers who once practiced reuse in 2000 switched to single use dialyzers by 2005. The study conducted by Tufts University in 2007, showed that 40 percent of providers between 2000 and 2005 switched from re-use to single use dialyzers.Regardless of ones stance on reuse, nephrologists agree that patient education is imperative and providers must inform their patients on all aspects of dialysis.Editor's Note: This Article was written by Dr. Jesse Flaxenberg of Pikes Peak Nephrology and submitted by Liberty Dialysis. For more information call 877-684-5008

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common complication of many health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart and blood vessel disease. There are now over 300,000 Americans on dialysis (artificial kidney treatment) due to kidney failure. Prevention of kidney failure is a primary goal of treatment for CKD. Treatment of CKD involves multiple approaches. First, excellent blood pressure control has been proven to reduce the risk of kidney failure. Blood pressure goal is usually less than 130/80. Several blood pressure medications have been proven to be particularly effective at controlling kidney disease complications. Your doctor will know which medication is right for you.Second, for diabetic patients, optimal blood sugar control is important to minimize risk of kidney failure. Cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, overuse of pain medications, and infrequent follow-up with a doctor all increase the risk for kidney failure. For many patients with advanced kidney disease, kidney replacement therapy may be necessary to preserve health and life. Kidney replacement therapy is required when the kidney function falls below 10% of normal. This low level of kidney function leads to excess accumulation of waste products and fluid, and symptoms of kidney failure (e.g. nausea, weakness, swelling) occur. Kidney replacement therapies are designed to improve symptoms by removing excess fluid and waste. Kidney replacement treatments include kidney transplantation, and several types of dialysis. Newer dialysis techniques are now available along the Front Range, including several home treatment options. Your doctor can advise if you need to see a kidney specialist (nephrologist) to assist with efforts to avoid kidney failure and need for dialysis treatments. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor your percent kidney function, readily available with a routine blood test. More information is available at the website for the National Kidney Foundation, and from your local kidney doctors.Editors Note: This article was written by Steve Fox, M.D. with Pikes Peak Nephrology and submitted by Liberty Dialysis. For more information, Liberty Dialysis can be reached at 877-684-5008