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Two Therapies Found to Help Dialysis Patients with Depression

2024-03-28T20:59:27-04:00February 27th, 2019|Categories: eNews, Medication, Mental Health|

For almost 50 years, hemodialysis has extended lives of people with chronic kidney disease. But when a patient first learns that their kidneys have failed and dialysis is necessary to survive, it can be a jolting overture of mortality. These patients usually have lived for years with diabetes or hypertension – diseases onerous for their medication regimens and lifestyle constraints. Adding dialysis, a four-hour, thrice-weekly therapy, can easily push patients into depression if they don’t already have that diagnosis. With this backdrop, researchers report today that two treatments, cognitive behavioral therapy (counseling) and the drug sertraline, effectively reduce depression among people [...]

Work Those Kidneys Out!

2024-03-28T20:59:29-04:00February 23rd, 2019|Categories: Early Intervention, Fact Sheet, Lifestyle, Physical Health, The Kidney Citizen|

By Collette Powers, MA, RDN, LDN, ACSM EP-C We have all heard it, and we all know it. We have been told from our doctor, a friend or a loved one. Whether it is for controlling high cholesterol, managing weight, reducing blood sugar or keeping our bodies healthy overall, we have all been told at some point we should exercise. But did you know exercise may help protect your kidneys too? Fatigue is a common struggle that many patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face. When we are tired, our instinct is to rest. However, over time, that “rest” can [...]

Scientists Hope to Eliminate the Need for Anti-rejection Drugs After an Organ Transplant with Experimental Procedure

2024-03-28T20:59:39-04:00January 22nd, 2019|Categories: Costs for Treatment, Kidney Transplant, Medication|

A patient who received a liver transplant decreased his anti-rejection drugs from 40 to one (with the hope to eventually eliminate all anti-rejection medications being taken) with the help of doctors and an experimental procedure, as published this week by The New York Times. The procedure involves training the immune system of the patient receiving the organ into not attacking the new organ by manipulating white blood cells from both the organ donor and the recipient and later reincorporating those cells into the recipient. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Anti-rejection Drugs In order for organ transplants to be successful, patients must [...]

Dialysis Patients Looking to Quit Smoking May Be Eligible for Free Counseling Sessions

2024-06-07T11:42:34-04:00November 30th, 2018|Categories: Costs for Treatment, Early Intervention, eNews, What Causes Kidney Disease|Tags: |

Smoking cigarettes can damage your kidneys. Quitting smoking may help your blood pressure, which can lower your risk for having heart attack or stroke. Individuals with high blood pressure have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure may have chronic kidney disease). Medicare Part B covers up to eight counseling sessions centered around quitting smoking during a 12-month period. Make sure your healthcare professional is recognized by Medicare and accepts Medicare’s payment. Visit Medicare’s website for more information.

Medication Use and the Role of the Pharmacist Recording and Slides

2024-03-28T20:59:48-04:00November 20th, 2018|Categories: eNews, Medication, News & Events, Treatment, Webinar|

If you were unable to attend our last education seminar, the recording is now available! Please see the video and links below for details. We want to keep getting better. Please help us by sharing your comments and suggestions here: Webinar Review View the Recording: Download the slides. Additional Videos Mentioned During Presentation: Patients Stories of Pharmacists' Care Expert Shares Key Steps in Staying Healthy with Kidney Disease Pharmacist Discusses Medications for Kidney Disease

CDC Advises Patients and Their Families to Be Antibiotics Aware

2024-03-28T20:59:51-04:00November 14th, 2018|Categories: eNews, Medication, News & Events, Treatment, What Causes Kidney Disease, What Is Kidney Disease|

People with chronic medical conditions, such as kidney disease, are at a higher risk of getting an infection, which can lead to sepsis. Antibiotics are life-saving drugs and critical tools for treating infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising patients and their families to use antibiotics only when necessary to further reduce antibiotic resistance, the spread of superbugs, and protect patients from side effects from antibiotics. During U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week and throughout the year, CDC promotes Be Antibiotics Aware, an educational effort to raise awareness about the importance of safe antibiotic use. The Be Antibiotics Aware initiative educates the public about [...]

Bladder Health and Chronic Kidney Disease

2024-03-28T20:59:52-04:00November 10th, 2018|Categories: Early Intervention, eNews, Lifestyle, News & Events, Staying Healthy, Treatment|

November is Bladder Health Month. The bladder is part of the urinary system, which also includes the kidneys. Taking care of the bladder is important for individuals with kidney disease as infections in the bladder can spread to the kidneys, which can cause permanent damage to the kidneys. Additionally, diabetes, which is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease, can contribute towards bladder problems. The National Institute of Health has some resources on how the bladder changes as we age and ways to keep your bladder healthy. Check out the resources below: Bladder Health for Older Adults – Discusses [...]

Bad News for Individuals with Kidney Disease That Use Marijuana

2024-03-28T20:59:55-04:00October 27th, 2018|Categories: eNews, News & Events, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Stress Management, Treatment|

Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) that use marijuana may lose function of their kidneys more rapidly than non-users, as found in one study. Researchers compared the mean annual rate of decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among the two groups of participants. The eGFR was 3.22 mL/min/1.73 m2 among marijuana users and 1.42 mL/min/1.73 m2 among non-users. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measures kidney function effectiveness by documenting how well the kidneys are filtering the blood. Scientists did not observe a decline in kidney function among individuals that use marijuana and do not have CKD. Read the full article.

RSVP for Next Month’s Webinar – Medication Use and the Role of the Pharmacist

2024-03-28T20:59:56-04:00October 23rd, 2018|Categories: eNews, Medication, News & Events, Treatment, Webinar|

Presented by: Wendy St. Peter, PharmD, FCCP, FASN, FNKF, Professor at the College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often times… have other medical conditions require many medicines have several doctors that prescribe medicines go to more than one pharmacy to get medicines It can be hard for patients, doctors and other healthcare professionals to keep track of all the medicines their patients with CKD take. The issues above can lead to medication therapy problems (MTPs). MTPs can…. reduce the good effects of medicines lead to safety issues (e.g., bad reaction to a medicine) result in non-adherence [...]

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