Know Your Opponent: Alonzo Mourning On Chronic Kidney Disease (NAPSA)—Basketball star Alonzo Mourning has overcome tremendous obstacles to become an all-star on and off the court. He was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2000 and had a kidney transplant in 2003. Since then, Mourning has made a triumphant return to the National Basketball Association (NBA) and now is traveling to clinics throughout the United States with Rebound from Anemia, a program designed to provide information about chronic kidney disease and its signs and symp- The Signs Symptoms of anemia may include fatigue or tiredness and diminished ability to carry out routine tasks. For Mourning, the fatigue caused by anemia kept him from doing things in life that he enjoyed, like spending time with family andfriends. “Recognition of anemia may lead to an earlier discovery of chronic kidney disease, which can > Alonzo Mourning toms to the millions of people with the condition andto thoseatrisk. The Problem ney disease include those whosuffer from diabetes, high blood pres- progressive condition in which the family history of kidney disease or effectively. Many people, including Mourning before his diagnosis, do not realize that they have chronic Chronic kidney disease also is more common among AfricanAmericans, Hispanic-Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders and American Indians. It is particularly important for those at risk Chronic kidney disease is a kidneys are unable to function kidney disease or are at risk for developing it, until they have reached advanced stages of the condition. This is significant because more than 20 million Americans—or one in nine adults —are estimated to have chronic kidney disease and another 20 million are at increased risk. The Hope Through Rebound from Anemia, Mourning hopes to motivate people to take action by evaluating if they are at risk for chronic kid- ney disease and identifying com- monside effects often associated with the condition. One such sign, anemia, or low concentrations of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, is an early, yet often overlooked,signal of chronic kidney disease. The Risk People at risk for chronic kid- sure or both and those who have a who are over the age of 65. for chronic kidney disease to be aware of the symptoms of anemia, such as fatigue or tiredness, dizziness or shortness of breath. “Before my diagnosis, I had no idea that I was at risk for kidney disease or that fatigue or tiredness associated with anemia is a warning symptom of the condi- tion. If I had known more about the risk factors for chronic kidney disease and its symptoms, I could have worked with my doctor and received treatment earlier, which may have slowed my disease pro- gression,” said Mourning. “Take my advice—if you’re at risk for chronic kidney disease and have symptoms of anemia, speak to your doctor.” lead to better health,” said Robert Provenzano, M.D., F.A.C.P., chair of the Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. John Hospital & Medical Cen- ter, Detroit, MI. “It’s important that patients discuss symptomsof anemia with their doctors.” The Treatment “Once I began treatment for my kidney disease, one of my greatest challenges was the fatigue or tiredness that not only kept me from picking up a basketball but even prevented me from playing with my kids,” said Mourning. “My doctor explained that anemia was a treatable condition and prescribed Procrit (Epoetin alfa), a medication which helped treat my anemia.” Individual results with Procrit therapy may vary. Through Rebound from Anemia, Mourning hopesto encourage patients at increased risk for kid- ney disease to recognize symp- toms of anemia and to talk to their physicians. The Way To Learn More Rebound from Anemia is sponsored by Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., marketer of Procrit’ (Epoetin alfa). For more information about chronic kidney disease and anemia, visit www.KidneyResource.com. ween nee n enn nnn nnn eee eee eee eee OT ee eee eee Note to Editors: PROCRIT? (Epoetin aifa) is a prescription medication for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease patients who are not on dialysis and is injected by doctors or nurses. PROCRIT? is not for patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure. High blood pressure has been noted in patients treated with PROCRIT and blood pressure should be monitored carefully. Drugs like PROCRIT? may increase the risk ofblood clots and seizures. Loss of response to PROCRIT? could be a sign ofa very rare but serious condition. In studies, the most commonside effects were high blood pressure, headache, joint pain, and nausea. Visit www.PROCRIT.com for full prescribing information.
