www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com | 79 Because the industry doesn’t have to abide by regulations about disclosing active and inactive ingredients or consistency in dosing, “they can get away with quite a few things.” Dr. Superdock has seen cases of acute kidney failure stemming from taking what he described as “health-food-store supplements.” He’s also seen situations where supplements interacted negatively with prescribed medications for transplant patients, risking kidney rejection. And he saw a patient die from liver failure after taking pine bark extract – which is marketed as an antioxidant, a treatment for erectile dysfunction, a boost for your brain and an anti-inflammatory. During COVID, millions of people opted to take ivermectin rather than get a vaccination. This distrust of the medical industry is a challenge for clinicians like Dr. Superdock and Boyt. “I hope that people start taking less advice from online groups and more advice from the doctors who see them on a regular basis and know their personal health histories,” said Dr. Superdock. “What might work for one person could be disastrous for another.” Additional information: DASH diet: insider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/dash-diet The American Kidney Fund: kidneyfund.org/sites/default/ files/media/documents/South-Carolina-April-2021.pdf (Editor’s note: This is the third and final article in a three-part series on kidney transplantation, organ donation and kidney health. In her early 50s, the writer learned that she had only one functional kidney; she was also diagnosed with kidney disease that was the result of overuse of over-the-counter ibuprofen. She had no idea.) S.C. KIDNEY DISEASE AND TRANPLANTS By the Numbers 1842 - South Carolinians currently on the list awaiting transplant (UNOS). 38 - Percent of South Carolinans with diagnosed high blood pressure (CDC). 7 - South Carolina has the seventh highest rate of diabetes in the United States (CDC). 670,000 - South Carolinians diagnosed with diabetes (CDC). 123,000 - Estimate of South Carolinians who have undiagnosed diabetes (CDC). 35 - Percent of South Carolinians who are obese (CDC). 2,373 - Annual new cases of kidney failure in South Carolina (US Renal Data System, 2020). 43 - Number of South Carolinians who died so far this year while waiting for a kidney transplant (UNOS). TIPS TO KEEP YOUR KIDNEYS HEALTHY 1. Avoid overeating because obesity leads to diabetes and high blood pressure. 2. Don’t oversalt. 3. Adapt your diet along the lines of the DASH diet. 4. Get to know your pharmacist. He or she knows what prescriptions you have and can advise you on OTC medications. 5. Quit smoking – for all kinds of reasons. 6. Visit your primary care physician once a year if you are young and healthy and more frequently if you have high blood pressure or diabetes. 7. Get regular blood test screening for kidney disease markers: protein, creatinine and filtration. Additional tips: blog.prismahealth.org/seven-tips-to-keep-yourkidneys-healthy
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