Florida Senate - 2012 (NP) SR 2116 By Senator Braynon 33-03211-12 20122116__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing February 13-17, 2012, as 3 “Kidney Awareness Week” in the State of Florida. 4 5 WHEREAS, 26 million American adults have Chronic Kidney 6 Disease (CKD) and millions of others are at risk in the United 7 States, and 8 WHEREAS, African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, 9 Native Americans, and seniors have an increased risk of 10 developing CKD, and 11 WHEREAS, the two main causes of CKD are diabetes and high 12 blood pressure, and there is a high correlation between CKD and 13 hypertension, and 14 WHEREAS, the kidneys serve many important functions, 15 including regulating the body’s water and chemicals within the 16 blood, removing toxins introduced into the body, releasing 17 hormones that regulate blood pressure, making red blood cells, 18 and producing an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong 19 bone density, and 20 WHEREAS, through the damage inflicted by CKD, the vital 21 functions of the kidney are compromised, causing a wide array of 22 health issues that can be very serious, and 23 WHEREAS, persons with CKD may develop other complications 24 such as anemia, high blood pressure, weak bones, nerve damage, 25 and other disorders, and 26 WHEREAS, as the disease progresses, it may lead to kidney 27 failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant for the 28 patient to survive, and 29 WHEREAS, many other conditions also affect the kidneys, 30 including Glomerulonephritis, which is the third most common 31 type of kidney disease, polycystic kidney disease, malformations 32 that occur as a baby develops in its mother’s womb, repeated 33 urinary infections, kidney stones, enlarged prostate glands, 34 Lupus, and other diseases that affect the body’s immune system, 35 and 36 WHEREAS, early detection of CKD is crucial and often 37 simple, and includes a blood pressure measurement, urine testing 38 for excess proteins, and a blood test for creatinine, NOW, 39 THEREFORE, 40 41 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 42 43 That February 13-17, 2012, is recognized as “Kidney 44 Awareness Week” in the State of Florida.