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Free Health Event on November 4 at Underground Atlanta

Free Health Event on November 4 at Underground Atlanta


The American Kidney Fund (AKF), in partnership with the American Society of Nephrology, will host its annual Atlanta Kidney Action Day at Underground Atlanta (on Upper Alabama Street near Peachtree Street) on Monday, November 4, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public, and will feature health screenings, entertainment, and healthy food samples.  


It is estimated that as many as 31 million people in the United States are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the nation’s ninth-leading cause of death. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of CKD, but there are other major risk factors, including having heart disease, being over 60, and being African American, Asian American, Native American or of Hispanic ethnicity. Left undiagnosed and untreated, CKD can lead to heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure and death. In Atlanta, rates of kidney disease are above the national average. 

CKD, known as a silent killer because it typically has no symptoms until the late stages, is an often-preventable health condition. If an individual has developed early CKD, detection through testing is a key factor in slowing or stopping the progression of the disease. Because prevention and early detection are vital to keeping at-risk individuals in good health, AKF’s national campaign, Pair Up: Join the Fight to Prevent Kidney Disease, urges individuals to learn if they’re at risk for kidney disease and to spread the word to friends or loved ones who also may be at risk. As part of Pair Up, AKF educates the public about risk factors and offers free kidney disease screenings in cities nationwide. 

From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., participants are invited to participate in free health screenings, healthy food samples, fitness demonstrations, and other activities. The free health screenings will check for indicators of kidney and heart health, diabetes, and other important health measures. The  screenings are open to anyone 18 and older, and there is no pre-registration required. 

For more information about Kidney Action Day, visit http://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-action-day/


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