Kidney Health Awareness Month
March is National Kidney Month. The kidneys work hard to remove waste, toxins, and excess fluid in the body. They also help to control blood pressure, signal the body to make red blood cells, filter waste, help to keep bones healthy and regulate blood chemicals that are essential to life.
Every 30 minutes, the kidneys – the size of a computer mouse – filter all of the blood in the body. Kidney diseases are a leading cause of death in the United States. Most people with early kidney disease may not notice symptoms and may not feel ill. For this reason, early detection is vital.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as they should. About 35.5 million adults in the United States are estimated to have CKD and most of these cases are undiagnosed.
With CKD, the excess fluid and waste that remain in the body can cause health problems like: Anemia, infections, Low calcium levels, high potassium levels and high phosphorus levels in the blood, Loss of appetite and eating less, Depression or lower quality of life.
Having diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure, obesity, and a family history of CKD are risk factors for CKD. To help reduce your risk, you can stay active, maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking, keep your blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg or the target your doctor sets for you, and get tested for CKD.
To learn more about CKD go to Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease | Chronic Kidney Disease | CDC