Transcript Prevention - The Kidney Foundation of Canada

A Kidney Disease Primer
Presented by
The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC &
Yukon Branch
Table of Contents
• Kidneys and what they do
• Kidney Disease:
• causes, risk factors and warning signs
• Kidney Disease:
• prevention
• KFOC – what it does
• BC Branch
Your Kidneys
• Master Chemists of your body
• Located on either side of the spine under the
lower ribs
• Reddish brown and shaped like
a kidney bean
• About the size of a clenched fist
Kidneys: What do they do?
• Regulate water
• Remove wastes
• Balance chemicals
(Including phosphorus, sodium
and medications)
Kidneys: What do they do?
• Produce hormones
(that regulate blood pressure and
make new blood cells)
• Help keep bones healthy
(regulate levels of calcium and
phosphorus)
Chronic Kidney Disease
• Defined as the progressive deterioration of the
kidney function
• Usually occurs gradually over time until kidneys
may stop working completely
• Currently there is no cure
• Progression MAY BE PREVENTED
OR SLOWED
Chronic Kidney Disease
Prevalence: no accurate numbers
• Current estimate: about 460,000 British
Columbians have kidney disease although
many don’t know it.
•
•This equates to
about 1 person in 10
High Risk Groups
People at highest risk for developing kidney
disease include those with:
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• A family history of kidney
disease
• Any of the following ethnic
backgrounds: Asian, African,
Aboriginal, South Asian
Possible Warning Signs
Early Stages: NONE!
• High blood pressure
• Puffiness of the eyes, hands and feet
• Passage of blood, cloudy or tea-coloured urine
• Excessive foaming in the urine
Warning Signs cont’d
• Persistent generalized itching
• Loss of appetite or weight
• Frequent passing of urine in the night
• Passing less urine or difficulty passing urine
• Fatigue
Causes of Kidney Disease
include:
• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• Polycystic Kidney Disease
• Drug or medication induced
• Urinary Tract Infection
Prevention
• Eat a well balanced diet
• Control your blood glucose levels if you have
diabetes
• Do regular physical exercise
• Control your blood pressure
• Stop smoking
• Control your weight
What if you are in a high risk group?
Visit your doctor
• Blood pressure check
• eGFR and creatinine test
to determine the level of
your kidney function
The Kidney Foundation of Canada
Brief History (50 Years old in 2014!)
• Founded in Montreal in 1964 by physicians
and family members of kidney patients
• Purpose – to raise Research Funds for a cure
• Expanded purpose
– provide patient services & family support
– encourage early detection and prevention
– promote organ donation
The Kidney Foundation of Canada
• Provides funding to help stimulate kidney-related
research
• Provides support to kidney patients and their
families
• Educates the public about kidney health
and organ donation
• Advocates on behalf of people living with
kidney disease
KFOC - Structure
• BC/ Yukon has chapters in Victoria, Nanaimo, TriCities, Abbotsford, Okanagan, Kamloops, Quesnel,
Prince George, Terrace, Chilliwack, Whitehorse and
Vancouver (Chinese Renal
Association and Vancouver
Kidney Club). As well as
a South Asian chapter.
Research
• $3 million a year to fund research into kidney
disease
• To date, over $110
million invested in grants
since inception of the
research program
Programs for Kidney Patients
•
•
•
•
Short Term Financial Grants and Loans
LODERP
Kidney Suites
Peer Support
Informational and Referral
• Manuals and Brochures
• Camp for kids
• Targeted Screening
Organ Donation Awareness
• Starting in 2015, the BC & Yukon Branch
has made organ donation awareness a
priority
• Increase number of people registered as
organ donors in BC by 50%
• Increase transplantation in BC by 50%
Thank you