The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois (NKFI), in partnership with DaVita Dialysis, will conduct a free health screening for people at increased risk for kidney disease on Sunday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The screening is part of a health fair to be held at New City YMCA, 1515 N. Halsted St., which will also feature a healthy cooking class, discussions on hypertension and diabetes, a raffle and more.
The screening is part of the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), a free program designed to help identify and educate individuals at increased risk — those who either have diabetes and/or hypertension or have first-degree relatives (parents, grandparents or siblings) with high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney failure—with the purpose of delaying or preventing the development of chronic kidney disease. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney failure.
“We know that if we start early with education, detection and if necessary, medical intervention, we can often postpone the onset of kidney disease or kidney failure and in some cases, even prevent it from ever developing,” says Kate O’Connor, Associate Executive Director of the NKFI.
KEEP screening participants will have their weight and blood pressure checked. Medical professionals will collect blood and urine samples for signs of kidney disease. A physician is on-site to review results with participants. All screening participants receive educational materials about preventing and treating kidney disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
More than 300,000 Americans (13,000 in Illinois) are currently being treated for chronic kidney failure, a condition that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant for patient survival. The number of individuals affected by kidney failure has been increasing by 6 to 8 percent each year. The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois urges individuals who may be at risk to attend the free screening to learn how improving or maintaining their health and getting proper medical attention may prevent or delay the onset of kidney disease. To register for the free screening or for information on upcoming screenings in your area, contact the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois at (800) 9-KIDNEY or (312) 321-1500.
The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois is dedicated to preventing kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation. |
