OLNEY — The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois is teaming up with Carle Richland Memorial Hospital to provide a free kidney and health screening on June 13 for all community members from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the basement conference room at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital.
Anyone interested in getting screened for kidney disease, high blood pressure or diabetes is encouraged to attend. There is no cost to be screened, and appointments are not necessary.
The screening is offered by the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois’ KidneyMobile, the nation’s only custom mobile unit that travels across the state screening individuals for kidney disease and its two main causes: diabetes and high blood pressure.
In addition to a free screening, attendees can talk privately with a Carle Richland provider about their results.
Kidney disease kills more people each year than breast or prostate cancer, but while the majority of Americans can recite the common tests for breast and prostate cancer, many do not know the risk factors and tests that could keep them off dialysis and the transplant waiting list.
Because kidney disease often develops slowly with few symptoms, it can frequently go undetected until it is very advanced. Simple steps such as controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, keeping weight down, exercising regularly, quitting smoking and avoiding excessive use of pain medicine, can help reduce risk.
“One in three American adults is at risk for kidney disease, while one in seven already have the disease” said Jacqueline Burgess-Bishop, chief executive officer of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. “That means hundreds of thousands of people in Illinois are affected. Our goal is to educate the community about the risks for kidney disease and detect it early so that they can manage the disease and slow its progression.”
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