Important Safety Information

• Do not use Renvela if you have a history of bowel obstruction. • Talk to your doctor if you have had difficulty swallowing or swallowing disorders; or if you have had digestive tract surgery or other digestive disorders, including severe constipation. View additional Important Safety Information.

Kidneys, Bones, and Heart: Making the Connection

Your heart and your bones have a special connection to your kidneys. They count on your kidneys to keep them strong and healthy. That’s why managing your CKD is so important — you’re not only helping your kidneys, you’re helping your whole body. Here’s how they’re all connected.

Your Kidneys

Your kidneys have several functions that help keep your whole body working right. They help your body by:

• Cleaning out the waste products and extra fluids in your blood
• Balancing important minerals in your body, like calcium and phosphorus
• Keeping your bones strong
• Managing your blood pressure

When you have CKD, your kidneys can’t do these jobs as well as they should. And that can lead to other problems in your body.

Your Bones

Calcium and phosphorus are minerals in your body that work together to keep your bones strong and healthy. Your kidneys help your bones by balancing how much of these minerals are in your blood. When you have CKD, your levels of calcium and phosphorus can become unbalanced, and your bones can become weak. If your bones are weak, they may begin to feel painful, especially in your back, hips, legs, and knees. Bones that are weak are also at greater risk of getting fractured or broken.

Your Heart

One of the biggest health problems caused by CKD is damage to your heart. It can happen in two ways:

• High blood pressure. If your kidneys aren’t working as well as they should, your blood pressure can go up. High blood pressure can lead to serious heart problems, such as stroke
• Unbalanced minerals. When your calcium and phosphorus levels are not balanced, they can make your blood vessels stiff. This can contribute to heart disease and painful joints.

If you have CKD, one of the goals of your healthcare team will be to keep your blood pressure in the normal range and your calcium and phosphorus levels in balance. Speak with your doctor about the other ways you can help keep your bones and heart healthy.