Written by Andrew McCarter
March is National Kidney Month! It's a time for communities across the country to raise awareness about kidney disease. This year’s focus is on taking charge of your health and becoming aware of the many factors that go into managing your kidney health.
This March is different because not only are we raising awareness about kidneys, we're also still in a global pandemic. Individuals with kidney diseases are at an increased risk for contracting viruses and COVID-19 due to suppressed immune systems. It’s not only important to raise awareness of kidney disease in general, but to also understand the unique needs of this population. That is why we came up with ways you can help, even if you aren't living with chronic kidney disease yourself!
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a severe condition affecting 37 million people; more than 90 percent of people don’t even know they have it! But we have the power to educate people on how they can take control of their health!
Kidney disease develops when kidneys lose their ability to remove waste and maintain fluid and chemical balances in the body. The impact of CKD depends on how well the kidneys filter wastes from the blood. It can progress quickly or take many years to develop, depending on other factors.
In many cases, there are few to no signs of the condition; most people are not even aware that they have kidney disease until it reaches the later stages, including kidney failure. That's why we have to raise awareness! Below are some ways that we can create awareness in fun and engaging ways. Tag us in all of your activities, remember we are a community and March is for us!
Use #MinuteForYourKidneys and tag us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @NKFIllinois
Here are just a few ideas to get you started spreading the word to your followers on social media:
If you post about fashion, make a tutorial video about incorporating orange into your style and then taking the quiz. Some ideas you could also incorporate is designing your own kidney wardrobe. Have some shirts you may not use anymore? Use those shirts to out kidneys on them! If you want to take it a step further, you can even create your own kidney themed jewelry!
If you post about fitness, show yourself doing 33 pushups/burpees or working out for 33 minutes. Explain the meaning behind the 33 number. If you’re close to snow, you could possibly even carve out “33” in the snow and take a selfie!
If you post about travel, do a quick rundown of your 33 favorite places to travel!
If you post about food, create “33%” out of food items or create a dish that’s one-third orange, then take the quiz. You could also come up with more kidney-friendly recipes and share them on your page!
If you post about beauty or makeup, paint your face with makeup with “33%” written on each cheek. Or if you want to be even more creative try painting a kidney on your face!
Remember, this is all supposed to be fun and engaging! We want to spread awareness of kidney health. When you are done doing one or more of the above activates take our Kidney Risk Quiz and ask your followers to do the same! Remember, tag us in all of your activities!
You can also download images, posters, and sample social media posts by using this handy toolkit!