Kidney disease patients are healthier and live longer if they've beefed up their muscles. A new study suggests patients may benefit from pumping iron or taking medications to boost their lean body mass. Kidney disease patients who are on dialysis live longer if they have a high body mass index; however, BMI measurements do not differentiate lean from fat mass. Researchers examined the effects of lean and fat mass on dialysis patients' health and survival by measuring patients' mid-arm muscle circumference (a measure of lean mass) and triceps skinfold (a measure of fat mass) over a 5-year period.

The researchers found that patients with a high mid-arm muscle circumference scored better on a mental health test and lived longer than patients with a low mid-arm muscle circumference. Patients with the highest mid-arm muscle circumference were 37 percent less likely to die during the study period than patients with the lowest circumference. Triceps skinfold measurements were not as predictive of patients' health and survival.

People on dialysis typically need treatment every two to three days, so they are particularly vulnerable when bad weather knocks out electricity or makes travel to their clinics difficult. Any delays in treatment can be life threatening, so it's important for patients to be prepared for the worst. Dialysis patients need to take precautions now so they are not caught off guard when severe weather hits.

Fresenius Medical Care offers the following tips for dialysis patients:

- Keep your emergency phone numbers handy. When bad weather threatens, contact your local facility and follow instructions they may provide.

- Have a disaster plan. Talk to your doctor, dialysis care team and family about your disaster plan - what you should do and where you should go if a disaster strikes. Keep track of local weather forecasts.

- Keep proper emergency supplies on hand. Have ready access to a first-aid kit, flashlight (with extra batteries), blankets, battery-powered radio, cell phone, non-electric can opener and any necessary medications.

- Make sure you have a ride. If you are an in-center patient, arrange for backup transportation to the clinic with a friend, neighbor or family member.

- Plan for power outages. If you are a home dialysis patient and you lose power, follow the directions given to you by the home training staff for continuing dialysis in an emergency.

- Adjust your insulin. If you are diabetic, ask your doctor how to adjust your insulin dosage during winter storm emergencies.

Severe weather can be a matter of life or death for dialysis patients, because they require treatment on a regular basis. It's important that patients have emergency supplies and plans in place during the winter season.