MARCH IS NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH—the perfect time to make kidney health a priority in your life! Take steps to protect your own kidney health, find out about kidney disease risks, plus get links to resources you may find helpful. Be the champion of your own kidney health! Kidney disease is on the rise in the United States1 1 in 3 Americans are at risk of kidney disease2 37+ million American adults have kidney disease2 9 out of 10 people with kidney disease DON’T KNOW THEY HAVE IT2 Kidney disease can lead to kidney damage2 National Kidney Month is a great opportunity to talk to your family about your family history of kidney disease and what you can do to help keep your kidneys healthy. Everyone can benefit, especially those that may be at greater risk. What do the kidneys do? The kidneys perform important functions in your body, including3: Removing waste Balancing fluids Helping to regulate blood pressure Promoting strong and healthy bones Kidney disease usually goes undetected until it’s more serious4 Know the symptoms5,6 Swelling in the body (especially eyes, hands, feet, and abdomen) Foamy urine or dark-colored urine High blood pressure Blood tests may show high creatinine, high cholesterol, or abnormal albumin levels Increased thirst Tiredness Leg cramps at night If you have any symptoms, get yourself checked. Make an appointment with your doctor or visit your community health clinic If you don’t have symptoms (most people don’t7) Get regular health exams that include a kidney health check Early detection is key.2 So, it’s important to stay on top of your kidney health. What is nephrotic syndrome? Nephrotic syndrome can be caused by diseases that affect the kidney or many parts of the body. Nephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms that indicate kidney damage, such as8: too much protein in the urine (albuminuria) higher levels of fat and cholesterol in the blood (hyperlipidemia) swelling, usually in the legs, feet, and ankles lower levels of albumin (a type of protein) in the blood FSGS is the #1 cause of nephrotic syndrome9 Focal Segmental GlomeruloSclerosis, also called FSGS, is a rare but serious kidney condition. FSGS damages the structure of the kidneys. It affects the kidney’s filtering units (called glomeruli), causing them to stop working properly.10,11 The number of people affected by FSGS is rising, but it is not known why.10 Kidney disease, including FSGS, is more common among African Americans10,12 Kidney disease occurs at higher rates among Black Americans.12 It’s important to know about kidney disease risks, so you can take steps to help protect your kidney health. If you are African American, know there’s a higher risk of kidney disease12 1 in 3 people with kidney failure are Black American—while making up just 13% of the US population13 FSGS carries a risk that’s 4x higher among Black Americans than the general US population10 If you are at higher risk, be proactive to help protect your kidney health Visit your doctor or clinic regularly for a kidney health check Take control of your health Talk to your healthcare professional about your risk factors DOWNLOAD INFOGRAPHIC What can you do to protect your kidneys? There are several things you can do in your everyday life to improve your kidney health and help lower your risk of kidney disease. Take an active role in lowering your own risk of kidney disease Steps to help improve overall kidney health14: Quit smoking Exercise Maintain a healthy weight Keep blood sugar under control Keep blood pressure under control Know your family history of kidney disease Get a urine test regularly Talk to your healthcare professional about kidney health Get check-ups regularly Ask about a urine test or blood test to measure your kidney function DOWNLOAD INFOGRAPHIC Expand your knowledge on kidney health. Get more information from these resources. Black Health Matters provides information about health and well-being, including information on FSGS https://blackhealthmatters.com/category/kidney-disease/fsgs NephCure® Kidney International’s mission is research, education, and support to improve the lives of people affected by kidney diseases involving the glomeruli (filtering system of the kidneys), such as FSGS https://nephcure.org National Kidney Foundation® (NKF), a pioneer of scientific research, is focused on patients’ kidney health through action, education, and accelerating change https://www.kidney.org National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports research and provides health education to the public https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd World Kidney Day is a global campaign that raises awareness of the importance of our kidneys www.worldkidneyday.org References 1. Saran R, Robinson B, Abbott KC, et al. US renal data system 2019 annual data report: epidemiology of kidney disease in the United States. Am J Kidney Dis. 2020:75(1)(suppl 1):A6-A7. 2. National Kidney Foundation. Kidney disease: the basics. https://www.kidney.org/news/newsroom/factsheets/KidneyDiseaseBasics. Accessed February 16, 2021. 3. National Kidney Foundation. How your kidneys work. https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/howkidneyswork. Accessed February 16, 2021. 4. National Kidney Foundation. 6-step guide to protecting kidney health. https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/sixstepshealthprimer. Accessed February 16, 2021. 5. National Kidney Foundation. National kidney month. https://www.kidney.org/content/national-kidney-month. Accessed February 16, 2021. 6. National Kidney Foundation. Understanding your lab values. https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/understanding-your-lab-values. Accessed February 16, 2021. 7. National Kidney Foundation. 10 signs you may have kidney disease. https://www.kidney.org/news/ekidney/august14/10_Signs_You_May_Have_Kidney_Disease. Accessed February 16, 2021. 8. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Nephrotic syndrome in adults. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/nephrotic-syndrome-adults. Accessed February 16, 2021. 9. American Kidney Foundation. Nephrotic syndrome. https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/other-kidney-conditions/rare-diseases/nephrotic-syndrome. Accessed February 16, 2021. 10. NephCure Kidney International. Include ‘FSGS’ in the FY16 department of defense peer-reviewed medical research program. http://nephcure.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/DOD-FSGS-Details.pdf. Accessed February 16, 2021. 11. National Organization for Rare Diseases. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/focal-segmental-glomerulosclerosis. Accessed February 9, 2021. 12. DaVita® Kidney Care. Risks for chronic kidney disease in African Americans. https://www.davita.com/education/kidney-disease/risk-factors/risks-for-ckd-in-african-americans. Accessed February 4, 2021. 13. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Race, ethnicity, & kidney disease. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/race-ethnicity. Accessed February 3, 2021. 14. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Preventing chronic kidney disease. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/prevention. Accessed February 16, 2021. MA-350 © 2021 Travere Therapeutics, Inc. All rights reserved. For US audiences. Chenodal®, Cholbam® and Total Care HUB® are registered trademarks of Travere Therapeutics, Inc. Thiola® and Thiola EC® are registered trademarks of Mission Pharmacal Company. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policies | Cookie Preferences This website uses cookies for optimal site functionality. 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