Make The Kidney Connection News
December 10, 2010

Talk About Health with Your Family and Friends This Holiday Season

The holiday season often is filled with family and friends, holiday parties, and faith-based traditions. You don't have to be a health expert to spark a kidney health conversation at your holiday gatherings. With the Kidney Sundays Toolkit or Family Reunion Health Guide, you can better understand your risks and talk to loved ones at your place of worship and at home about the importance of kidney health.

Why should we be checked for kidney disease if we have diabetes or high blood pressure?

Diabetes and high blood pressure are common health issues among African Americans. These conditions can damage the kidneys over time and may even cause kidney failure. Here are some other reasons to get checked:

• Early kidney disease has no signs or symptoms. The only way to know if you have kidney disease is to get checked for it.
• Kidney disease often does not go away. It may get worse over time and can lead to kidney failure. You will need to go on dialysis or have a kidney transplant if your kidneys fail.
• Kidney disease can be treated. The sooner you know you have kidney disease, the sooner you can start treatment to help delay or prevent kidney failure. Treating kidney disease also may help prevent heart disease.

You also should be checked for kidney disease if you have:

• Cardiovascular (heart) disease, or
• A mother, father, sister, or brother with kidney failure

Make the Kidney Connection

Help your family or faith community Make the Kidney Connection between diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease. You don't have to be a health expert to talk to them about kidney health and the importance of getting checked. The National Kidney Disease Education Program's easy-to-use tools—the Family Reunion Health Guide and Kidney Sundays Toolkit—tell you how. Visit www.nkdep.nih.gov to view or order them.

Join the NKDEP Facebook Page

NKDEP is on Facebook! To join the conversation, share your story on how your loved ones are talking about kidney health this month, and learn about new materials and events on Facebook, become a fan today!

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this e-newsletter, please contact us at nkdep@info.niddk.nih.gov with your request.