Kidney disease on the rise in TN, affecting thousands

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - In Tennessee, thousands are affected by kidney disease — often without realizing it until experiencing serious health complications.

Kidney disease is a growing concern in Tennessee. More than 11,000 Tennesseans rely on dialysis, and nearly 3,000 were diagnosed with kidney failure in just one year. Hanna Spitzner is one of them.

“I went into stage five kidney failure, and so now I’m on dialysis. I’m on what they call peritoneal dialysis, and I’m on a machine for 10 hours a night, every single night, and I have an eight-year-old daughter. I have an eight-year-old stepson, and they are both amazing little helpers, but it’s also rough on them,” Hanna said.

Her story is becoming more common in Tennessee. More than 2,600 Tennesseans are waiting for a kidney transplant, but only about one in three will receive one this year.

The leading causes are diabetes and high blood pressure—both of which can go unnoticed for years.

“Particularly common here in Tennessee is high blood pressure, which commonly develops even in people’s teens, 20s, 30s... things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, don’t have any symptoms until you’ve had them for a long time, and they’ve actually already caused damage to the heart and the brain and the kidneys,” said Dr. Kathryn Lindley from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Doctors say prevention starts with regular check-ups, a healthy diet, and staying active. Limiting alcohol and quitting smoking can also help lower your risk.

For those with chronic kidney disease, the CDC recommends a yearly flu shot to reduce the risk of becoming severely ill with the flu.

March is National Kidney Month, highlighting the importance of protecting your kidneys and catching any problems early.