Thursday Is World Kidney Day
STUDIO CITY (CBS) — Thursday is World Kidney Day.
Lori Hartwell visited the KCAL9 studios Thursday to talk about the day of recognition and Kidney Awareness Month. Hartwell is the president and founder of the Renal Support Network.
Kidney Awareness Month (March) is aimed at increasing public awareness about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), the necessity of maintaining good kidney health and the advancement of transplantation and treatment.
CKD is the progressive loss of kidney function over time; the result is end-stage renal disease. One in 6 adults in the United States (16.8%) is in one of the five stages of CKD. Nearly half of the people in the early stages do not know that they have kidney problems. Diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) are the main causes of CKD. Certain ethnic groups-African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans-are at greater risk for developing CKD.
Renal Support Network is a nonprofit, patient-focused, patient-run organization that provides nonmedical services to those affected by CKD. It was founded on the principle of offering patients additional resources, programs and services such as the HOPEline (a call-in line offering patient-to-patient encouragement and support from operators who have lived successfully with CKD); KidneySpeak (providing tools and resources to inform people on CKD and organ donation); KidneySpace (an online discussion forum to air questions, thoughts and opinions on lifestyle issues related to transplant and kidney disease) and much more.
To help create awareness throughout the year, RSN sponsors the Renal Teen Prom which unites teens who have kidney disease, who have just been diagnosed, who are on dialysis and those who have had a transplant. Actor/comedian, Jack Black is a major supporter and friend of RSN and has been the prom's special celebrity guest host for the past three years meeting and entertaining hundreds of kidney patients who have traveled from across the U.S. His contribution is priceless. This year, he was crowned prom king. In fact, every person with kidney disease can be prom king or queen.
For more facts and information on kidney disease, please visit www.RSNHope.org or call 866-903-1728.
