Kidney Disease: Did You Know?

We’ve come a long way in improving management of kidney disease, through treatments including transplant.

Here are some of the most common diseases we’ve been able to treat:

  • Diabetes (type-1 and type-2): Consistently high blood sugar can damage the kidney’s filtration system
  • High blood pressure: While hypertension can lead to a myriad of health problems, it can impact the kidneys by damaging the surrounding blood vessels
  • Renal artery stenosis: This condition leads to blockages in the arteries leading to the kidneys
  • Polycystic kidney disease: An inherited condition in which cysts develop in spaces inside the kidneys
  • Congenital kidney problems: While deformities can be benign, some can result in impaired kidney function
  • Autoimmune diseases: In these cases, the body attacks healthy cells and organs, including the kidneys

Some of the top ways to take care of your kidneys:

  1. Hydrate: Drinking plenty of water keeps your kidney’s filtration system running in tip-top shape
  2. Eat healthy: A healthy diet is good for the rest of your body, but also helps your kidneys get the vitamins and minerals they need to work properly. Trimming off excess weight can also help improve kidney function
  3. Maintain a healthy blood pressure: Hypertension is one of the top causes of kidney disease and failure. Keeping this area in check means improved kidney function
  4. Quit smoking: Smoking raises your blood pressure (see point #3) and causes a myriad of other health problems. Eliminating this habit can help to improve both your kidney and overall health

Now We Join in Celebration

As we celebrate 50 years of providing excellence in transplantation, breakthrough treatments and compassionate coordination of care to the region, we invite you to join us in a 50-day countdown to the anniversary of the first surgery that launched Cincinnati’s most comprehensive transplant program.

Celebrate with us by sharing our stories of transplantation with your social media network using #UCHealthTransplant via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!

For more information about UC Health transplant services, please visit uchealth.com/transplant.