Vol. 3, No. 1                                                                                   January 14, 2010
In This Issue
Support Patient Emergency Assistance fund
Kidney Walks scheduled for Spring 2010
Bull and oyster roast fund-raiser planned
Bernard Jaar, M.D., to discuss CKD management
Help your heart and you'll help your kidneys
Upcoming events
Thought for the day
Support Patient Emergency Assistance fund
 
Helping Patients logo
Kidney and transplant patients often need help with daily expenses, such as transportation, medication, rent and utilities. Many find themselves unable to work because of their illness. One of the ways the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland reaches out to assist patients is through its Patient Emergency Assistance program. And we need your financial support to be able to continue this vital program. Click here to donate.
 
In this space each issue we will share a story of how NKF-MD was able to help a kidney patient through a difficult time.
 
One dialysis patient from Sykesville asked for help in buying a special chair for at-home dialysis. NKF-MD gave him $250 towards the purchase. He wrote us: "After five years of in-center dialysis, my wife and I have completed the training for Home Dialysis, and thanks to the nurses that trained us, we are making out very well. Thanks again!"

Won't you help us keep this important program going? Please click here to donate.
Kidney Walks scheduled for Spring 2010 
 
walk logo
The 2010 Kidney walk schedule is finalized, and NKF-MD will offer five walks this year around the region.
 
April 18 -- Brecknock County Park in Felton, DE.
May 2 -- Salisbury Zoo.
May 16 -- Rose Hill Manor Park in Frederick.
May 16 -- Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. 
May 23 -- Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
 
The local Presenting Sponsor is the Charles T. Bauer Foundation.
 
The Kidney Walk websites are up and running. For information about available sponsorship opportunities, please visit our website.
Bull and oyster roast fund-raiser planned
 
award winnersMark your calendar for the annual Johnny Dee's bull and oyster roast benefitting NKF-MD. It's scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14 at the Towson American Legion Hall, 125 York Road. Food will be served from 1 to 5, and music and dancing are from 2 to 6.
 
Catering is by Johnny Dee's Lounge and will include marinated top rounds of beef on a pit, oysters on the half-shell, lasagna and other Italian specialties, chicken wings, multiple side dishes, desserts and coffee.
 
Tickets can be bought at the door or in person at Johnny Dee's Lounge, 1705 Amuskai Road, Parkville.
Bernard Jaar, M.D. to discuss CKD management
Talk to physicians will address management of chronic condition
 

Bernard Jaar, M.D., a member of the NKF-MD Medical Advisory Board, will present "An Internist's Management of Chronic Kidney Disease" at the February 2010 Scientific Session of the Maryland Chapter of the American College of Physicians. The event will be held at the Turf Valley Conference Center on February 5-6.

 

The theme of the event is management of chronic medical problems. Dr. Jaar will speak at a Feb. 6 session, and members of NKF-MD's Patient Advocacy and Services Committee, Janet Hartman and Zeke Ayele, will staff an information table at that event along with Brenda Falcone, NKF-MD's Director of Community and Patient Services.

Help your heart and you'll help your kidneys 
 
It's becoming better understood that heart disease and hypertension are major contributing factors to kidney disease. Here are some tips from the National Kidney Foundation for keeping both the heart and the kidneys in top shape.
 
1. Don't smoke. This is the single best step you can take to improve your heart health. Smoking causes hardening of the arteries, which no smokingleads to both coronary artery disease and kidney damage. Smoking is also a major risk factor for high blood pressure, which can cause heart and kidney disease.
2. Control your blood pressure. Not only does high blood pressure stress the heart, it also causes damage to the blood vessels leading to the kidney filters. Blood pressure medicine is very effective in lowering blood presure and also in treating heart and kidney disease.
3. Eat a proper diet. Pattern your diet after the DASH diet, which encourages low salt intake with an increase in vegetables and low-fat dairy products. You can learn more about the DASH diet here.weight
4. Maintain a healthy body weight. Know your Body Mass Index, and aim for a BMI of 25 or less. Overweight is between 25 and 30, and a BMI over 30 is defined as obese. You can calculate your BMI here.
5. Have your doctor test you for both heart and kidney disease. Since heart disease is a known risk factor for kidney disease, and vice versa, if you have one condition you should ask your doctor to test you for the other.
Upcoming events
 
Jan. 27 -- NKF-MD board meeting, 6 p.m. 
Feb. 14 -- Bull and oyster roast to benefit NKF-MD, sponsored by Johnny Dee's Lounge. Towson American Legion Hall, 1 to 6 p.m.
March 11 -- World Kidney Day.
Thought for the day
 
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you."
-- Jim Rohn