- Nick Mangold died at 41 from complications related to kidney disease.
- He underwent dialysis and sought a kidney donor, unable to find family matches.
- Over 90,000 people await kidney transplants in the U.S., with 11 daily deaths reported.
Nick Mangold, who’s often hailed as a “legendary center” for the New York Jets, died Oct. 25 at age 41 from complications of kidney disease.
He had kept his condition private for a long time, but noted in a letter to “My NY Jets community” that he’d been undergoing dialysis and was listed for a kidney transplant. He wrote that he’d been diagnosed with a genetic defect that leads to chronic kidney disease. Of dialysis, he noted, “I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have more time.”
He said no one in his family was able to donate, “so this is why I’m reaching out to you, our NY Jets and Ohio State Communities. I am in need of a kidney donor with type O blood.” He wrote that he was “deeply grateful to anyone that would consider donating.”
The nonprofit United Network for Organ Sharing reports that more than 90,000 people are on the waiting list to receive a kidney transplant in the United States. Many of them, like Mangold, will not find a match in time to save their lives. UNOS estimates 11 people die every day while waiting.
Chronic kidney disease is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., and impacts close to 15% of adults.
What the kidney does
Most people have two kidneys, though people can live well with one functioning kidney. The kidney’s biggest role is to filter waste products from the blood. When it fails, harmful substances can build up in the body and create health problems.
Other kidney tasks include helping make red blood cells, balancing the body’s minerals and keeping bones healthy. Kidneys are also important to maintaining blood pressure and high blood pressure can damage the kidneys. Blood pressure and kidney health is a two-way street.
There are a lot of reasons for kidney disease and damage can start even before someone has symptoms. Among causes, per the Cleveland Clinic:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Heart disease or heart failure
- Kidney inflammation, called glomerulonephritis
- Autoimmune disorders like lupus
- Family history, including polycystic kidney disease
- Obesity
- Age over 60
- Acute kidney injury
- Use of tobacco products
- Kidney stones
Infections that are particularly severe, cancer, kidney stones, long-lasting urinary tract infections and other issues can also sometimes cause chronic kidney disease.
Mangold didn’t go into detail about what form his kidney disease took, though he said it was congenital, which means he’s had it since birth, although it wasn’t diagnosed until he was in his early 20s.
Chronic kidney disease has five stages based on how much damage the kidney has received. When it’s diagnosed early and treated, many live long and healthy lives, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
The foundation notes symptoms that include foamy urine, frequent or infrequent urinations, itchy and/or dry skin, feeling tired, nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss that’s not linked to an effort to lose weight.
In more advanced stages of kidney disease, someone may struggle to concentrate, notice numbness or swelling in their limbs, achy muscles and cramps, shortness of breath, vomiting and trouble sleeping. A person with advanced kidney disease sometimes has breath that smells like ammonia.
Kidney disease is usually detected by way of both a blood and a urine test.
Caring for your kidneys
Mangold reported that he had recently begun dialysis, which acts like an artificial kidney and filters toxins from blood. It’s a grueling process that often takes hours and may need to be done multiple times a week.
It’s likely he’d already taken at least some of the other steps that reduce pressure on the kidneys, depending on the specific condition he suffered and what his health care providers recommended. The foundation notes there are things individuals can do that help, including:
- Medications
- Nutrition changes including limiting salt and paying attention to potassium, phosphorus and/or calcium in one’s diet
- Not smoking or using tobacco products
- Exercising
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Managing stress
- Getting a healthy amount of high-quality sleep
- Avoiding non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including in over-the-counter products like cold medicines
Goodbye to a “legend”
In a written statement, Jets Chairman Woody Johnson called Mangold “the heartbeat of our offensive line for a decade and a beloved teammate whose leadership and toughness defined an era of Jets football. Off the field, Nick’s wit, warmth and unwavering loyalty made him a cherished member of our extended Jets family.”
CNN quoted Jets coach Aaron Glenn: “He was the heart and soul of this team.... Prayers go out to him and his family. It’s tough to hear. It’s tough to hear because of who he was as a person. Him being a true Jet.”
The team posted Mangold’s number 74 with a heart emoji on X.