A new state task force is hard at work trying to reduce kidney disease in Missouri. Victoria Warren, Coordinator of the Missouri Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force at the State Health Department, says one of the primary goals is to educate the public about the importance of healthy kidneys and the danger of chronic kidney disease.

In 2007, more than 2,000 Missourians were diagnosed with end stage renal disease, and more than 6,400 Missourians were living on dialysis. More than 1,100 people died from kidney disease last year. The Task Force advises Missourians to be on the lookout for symptoms of possible kidney disease. They include: fatigue, poor appetite, difficulty sleeping, swollen feet and ankles, puffiness around the eyes, and unexpected weight loss or gain.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)