T.J. Samson | Destination Health | June 2020

Primary care June 2020 3 Another reason to control your blood pressure Hi gh b l ood pre s sure i s a s e r i ous threa t t o your k i dne y s Your kidneys play a vital role in filtering your blood and keeping your body functioning properly. So it’s important that your kidneys stay healthy. One way to do that is to make sure your blood pressure stays within a nor- mal range. Blood pressure that is too high can cause kidney disease. Blood pressure is the force of your blood as it flows through your blood vessels. When blood pressure is too high, blood vessels stretch so the blood can flow through them more easily.This stretching damages blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the kidneys. Kidneys with damaged blood vessels don’t remove wastes and extra fluid through your urine like they should. In turn, the extra fluid that accumulates in blood vessels may cause blood pressure to go even higher, creating a dangerous cycle. High blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure in the U.S. SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY DISEASE Like high blood pressure, kidney disease does not have symptoms—at least not in its early stages. You may notice swelling in your legs, feet or ankles.This is called edema, and it is caused by a buildup of extra fluid and salt that healthy kidneys would expel. In its later stages, kidney disease may cause: ●  ● Loss of appetite. ●  ● Nausea. ●  ● Vomiting. ●  ● Fatigue. ●  ● Trouble concentrating. ●  ● Problems sleeping. ●  ● Increased or decreased urination. ●  ● Generalized itching or numbness. ●  ● Dry skin. DO YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? If you have high blood pressure, talk to your health care provider about your risk for kidney disease. Your provider might want to do some tests of your urine and maybe a blood test to determine early signs of kidney damage. The best way to avoid or slow progression of kidney disease is to lower your blood pressure. You can do that with medications and also changes in your lifestyle, such as: ●  ● Following a healthy eating plan that in- cludes reducing sodium (salt). ●  ● Getting regular physical activity. ●  ● Losing weight if you’re overweight. ●  ● Quitting smoking if you light up. ●  ● Reducing stress. Sources: American Heart Association; National Institutes of Health The other skin cancers What to know about basa l and squamous ce l l cancer s You’ve probably read a few sto- ries about melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer. But you may not have read much about two far more com- mon skin cancers. Basal and squamous cell skin cancers (or carcinomas) are the most prevalent types of skin cancer.They start in the top layer of skin and are usually caused by sun exposure. BASAL CELL CARCINOMAS These skin cancers make up about 8 out of 10 skin cancer diagnoses.They usually develop on sun-exposed areas of the body—often the face, head or neck. Basal cell carcinomas usually grow slowly. Rarely do they spread to other parts of the body. But if not treated, a basal cell carcinoma can invade bone or other tissues. SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS About 2 out of 10 skin cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Like basal cell cancers, squamous cell carcino- mas appear on sun-exposed parts of the body, including the face, ears, neck, lips and backs of the hands. Squamous cell cancers are more likely than basal cell carcinomas to spread to other parts of the body. WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE? Skin cancer looks like an abnormal area of skin. It can be: pink; red and swollen; peeling; bleeding or look- ing like an open sore; or thick and crusty. Not all skin changes are cancer. But show your health care provider any changes to your skin that you think might be abnormal. RISK FACTORS As mentioned before, the biggest risk factor for basal and squamous skin cancers is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Tanning beds also use UV rays.That’s why tanning beds are not a safe alternative to sun tanning. Other risk factors include: ●    Having fair skin. ●    Being male. ●    Being older. The risk of both cancers goes up with age. ●    Having been previously diagnosed with either basal or squamous cell skin cancer. TREATMENT OPTIONS Different types of surgery are often used to treat both basal and squa- mous cell cancers, depending on the size and locations of the tumor. Other possible treatments for these cancers include radiation therapy and skin creams that can kill cancer cells. Sources: American Cancer Society; UpToDate