The Kidney Foundation of Canada is reminding the community on how to keep your kidneys healthy during World Kidney Awareness Month.
March is World Kidney Awareness Month, and Community Engagement Manager for the Grande Prairie region, Krysta Gendreau says not only the month, but World Kidney Day on Thursday, March 12 hits home for her in a big way.
“It means everything. My husband is a kidney patient and a transplant recipient it means the world to me.”
1 in 10 Canadians have kidney disease, with over 50,000 people in Canada receiving life-sustaining treatments. Some of the treatments include; kidney failure completed through dialysis, or people who are living with a kidney transplant. Gendreau said she wants the community to take some time out of their day on Thursday to learn more about their kidneys. Gendreau added that in the country, kidney disease is growing six per cent annually.
“I want people to understand what their kidneys do for them, they are just as important as our heart and lungs. What people don’t understand is that they don’t get regenerate, they don’t get better. Once their damaged or affected by illness they are going to keep declining if you don’t get medical attention,” she said.
On the Kidney Foundation website, they offer a free 10 question quiz to see if you may be at risk.
“Kidney disease is usually silent, there is no cure, and symptoms don’t develop until permanent damage has occurred.”
Gendreau says the website also has awareness campaigns during March, that teach you more about your kidneys and how to keep them healthy.
The Kidney Foundation also hosts Kidney Connect events every other month at the Grande Prairie Public Library.
