March is National Kidney Month, and Alaska Health Fair, Inc. and the National Kidney Foundation are urging everyone to take healthy steps to protect their kidneys. An estimated 26 million American adults have kidney disease, though most don’t know it. To protect your kidneys, you should get tested for kidney disease, reduce the use of NSAIDs (over the counter pain medicines), cut down on processed foods, exercise regularly, and control your blood pressure and diabetes. High blood pressure and diabetes are major risk factors for developing kidney disease, and early detection and treatment can slow or prevent its progression.
Alaska Health Fair offers the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), which is a part of our comprehensive blood test for just $45, and it includes tests for kidney function. The CMP provides important information about your body’s chemical balance and metabolism, and includes tests for your kidneys, electrolytes, calcium, protein, liver and blood sugar.
Walk-ins are welcome at all events and you can also schedule an appointment online for faster service. Visit http://www.alaskahealthfair.org to view our spring schedule, to make an appointment and for more information.
Upcoming health fairs
March 4, Fairbanks University Park Community, 554 Loftus Rd., 8 a.m. to noon.
March 11, Anchorage St. John Methodist Church Community Health Fair, 1801 O’Malley Rd., 8 a.m. to noon
March 11, Meadow Lakes Community Health Fair, Meadow Lakes Elementary School, 1741 Pitman Road, 8 a.m. to noon
March 11, Fairbanks Community Health Fair, 725 26th Ave., Suite 201, 8 a.m. to noon
March 14, Fairbanks Alaska Health Fair Fairbanks Office Draw, 725 26th Ave., Suite 201, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
March 18, Trapper Creek Community Health Fair, Trapper Creek Community Center, Mile 115 Parks Hwy., 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
March 23, Galena Community Health Fair, Sidney C. Huntington School, 299 Antoski Rd., 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
March 24-25, Juneau Community Health Fair, Thunder Mountain High School, 3101 Riverside Dr., 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
March 25, Wasilla Community Health Fair, WASI Wasilla Area Senior Center, 1301 S. Century Cir., , 8 a.m. to noon.
March 28, Soldotna Kenai Hope Community Health Fair at the Kenai Recreation Center, 47202 Princeton Ave., 8 a.m. to noon.
March 28, Fairbanks Alaska Health Fair Fairbanks Office Draw, 725 26th Ave., Suite 201, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In addition to our comprehensive test, other screenings offered include thyroid, $35; prostate disease, $25; vitamin D, $50; A1C diabetes, $25; blood typing, $20. For more tests and details, visit our website.
Questions? Call 907-278-0234 Anchorage/statewide; 907-374-6853, Fairbanks; or 907-723-5100, Juneau.
Sharon Phillips is the Alaska Health Fair, Inc. Tanana Valley/Northern Region program director.
