Each year in June, Men’s Health Month is celebrated to increase awareness of preventable health issues and encourage early detection of health complications among men. In North Carolina, 2,093 men make up 60% of the transplant waiting list. Of those men, nearly 87% are awaiting a kidney transplant.
Kidneys perform vital functions including filtering waste and excess fluids from your blood and helping to control blood pressure. According to the UNC Kidney Center, one in nine North Carolinians has Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). While treatments are available for Chronic Kidney Disease, it can often be prevented.
Two of the leading causes of kidney failure are diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Kidney disease can often be prevented or lessened with proper treatment of these diseases. Symptoms of CKD include nausea, vomiting, metallic taste, itching, puffy eyes, weakness, confusion, difficulty concentrating and loss of appetite.
With COVID-19 sweeping the nation, there are more concerns about patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Patients on dialysis are urged to continue treatments. Patients with kidney transplants are encouraged to continue taking anti-rejection medications, continue good hygiene practices, and follow the recommendations of their healthcare team. Read about Michael Phillips’ experience with COVID-19 as a kidney transplant recipient here.
