Kidney Disease The Focus Of "Michigan Matters"

By Carol Cain

Senior Producer and Host

WWJ-TV CBS Detroit's "Michigan Matters"

It's an epidemic impacting over 900,000 people in Michigan, yet few are aware they have it.

It's kidney disease and it's impacting Detroit and Michigan at an alarming rate.

Over 80,000 in Detroit have it. With another 123,000 in Wayne County and 900,000 across the state, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is four times as prevalent among African-Americans.

But kidney disease is preventable if caught early.  Regular blood tests and checking for high blood pressure and testing for diabetes, are important ways to find the disease, according to Dr. Noreen Rossi, chair of the Scientific Advisory Board for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) and professor of medicine, Wayne State University.

She made the made the comments during taping of "Michigan Matters" which airs Sunday at 11 am on WWJ-TV CBS Detroit.

Richard Carson, a member of the Detroit Executive Leadership Committee for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, also appeared and talked about his own experience.

The seemingly healthy work force development consultant found himself suddenly feeling ill just after his 35th birthday. Rushed to the hospital he discovered he had alarmingly high blood pressure and learned his kidneys were failing.

"I went from feeling ok to dialysis in one day," he said.

Now 44, he has had two kidney transplants. The first was unsuccessful, and he nearly died from it. He went back on dialysis and got a second transplant just a year ago which proved successful.

""The symptoms are subtle," he said. "You need to get your blood levels checked."

"Even doctors need to be more informed about kidney disease," said Dr. Rossi.

"Kidney disease is a fact of life for many Detroiters but the NKFM is working hard to change that fact," said Denise Beach, director of health initiatives at the NKFM's Detroit branch. "Kidney disease is often preventable, so we're working to get the word out to educate people on the importance of taking care of their health."

The Detroit Chapter is holding Cool Blue Monday! on Aug. 8 at MGM Grand in Detroit to raise awareness and money at the annual event. It includes a strolling buffet dinner, entertainment and live and silent auctions. The event is from 5:30 p.m to 9 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom.

Cases of chronic kidney disease are rising 6% to 7% annually in Michigan. And the costs are as well.

Nationally, Medicare spent $24 billion -- or 32% of its overall budget in 2007 -- on kidney disease.

"This disease is preventable," Carson said, adding "We need to educate people."

Contact the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan's Detroit branch for more about Cool Blue Monday! at 313-259-1574 or www.nkfm.org Carol Cain is emcee of the event.

Carol Cain is Senior Producer and Host of Emmy winning "Michigan Matters" airing 11 a.m. Sundays on WWJ-TV CBS Detroit. You can read her columns in Sunday's Detroit Free Press. She can be reached at 248-355-7126 or clcain@cbs.com