Taking care of your kidneys

1 in 3 adults in the United States are at risk for kidney disease, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

HIGH RISK FACTORS:

• DIABETES • HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE • HEART DISEASE • OBESITY • FAMILY HISTORY OF KIDNEY FAILURE

ADDITIONAL FACTORS:

• BEING AGE 60 OR OLDER • LOW BIRTH WEIGHT • PROLONGED USE OF NSAIDS SUCH AS IBUPROFEN AND NAPROXEN • LUPUS OR OTHER AUTOIMMUNE

DISORDERS • CHRONIC URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS • KIDNEY STONES

Unless you’re one of the unlucky people who has had kidney stones or infections, you may not think much about the many vital roles this pair of organs plays in keeping you healthy.

In addition to their main job of regulating your body’s fluid levels and filtering wastes and toxins from your blood, they:

• Keep sodium, phosphorus and potassium in balance • Release the hormone that directs production of red blood cells

• Release a hormone that regulates blood pressure • Activate vitamin D to maintain healthy bones

HEART

kidneys

URETER

BLADDER

“Because chronic kidney disease (CKD) is progressive, early testing and screening – even before referral to nephrology – is the best step to preserving kidney function and quality of life. Primary care professionals

like family physicians have a critical role

in making sure patients at risk are properly tested so they can get the diagnosis and treatment they need early in the disease.”

Joseph Vassalotti Chief Medical Officer National Kidney Foundation

*couldn't hurt to get a physical

Chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease includes conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep you healthy by filtering wastes from your blood. If kidney disease worsens, wastes can build to high levels in your blood and make you feel sick.

Unfortunately, kidney disease often goes undetected until it’s very advanced and requires dialysis or a transplant.

That’s why it’s important to pay attention to your kidney health even if there’s not a detectable problem. And the best place to start is with

*your primary care provider (PCP).

* make note of any symptoms

Early detection is key

Your PCP can ask questions to assess whether you have a high risk for kidney disease based on your symptoms, family history and other health conditions. If you are at risk, they can also perform three simple tests:

• Blood pressure reading: High blood pressure can damage small blood vessels in the kidneys.

• Urine test: Traces of a type of protein, albumin, in the urine (albuminuria) may be an early sign of kidney disease.

• Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) blood

test: This measures how well the kidneys are filtering the blood.

Regular testing is important for everyone, but it’s especially important for people at risk.

*Take the one-minute quiz

MinuteForYourKidneys.org

See if you are among the 33% of adults in the U.S. at risk for developing kidney disease. The National Kidney Foundation will send you a copy of your quiz results, plus tips for preventing kidney disease.

symptoms

URINE COLOR

good - - - - - - - - bad

It’s also important to let your PCP know if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms of kidney disease:

• Fatigue or weakness • Difficult, painful urination • Foamy urine • Pink, dark urine (blood in urine) • Increased thirst • Increased need to urinate (especially at night) • Puffy eyes • Swollen face, hands, abdomen, ankles, feet nephrologist?

You may be referred to a nephrologist – a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating kidney conditions – depending on your test results and symptoms.

Kidney stones

Kidney stones may increase the risk of kidney disease. And more than half a million people go to emergency rooms for kidney stone problems every year, according to the National Kidney Foundation. A kidney stone is a hard object made from chemicals in the urine. When there’s too much waste in too little liquid, crystals form. After it’s formed, the stone may stay in the kidney or travel down the urinary tract into the ureter. Sometimes, tiny stones move out of the body in the urine without causing too much pain. But stones that don't move may cause a back-up of urine in the kidney, ureter, bladder or urethra.

Common symptoms of kidney stones include: • Severe lower back pain • Blood in your urine • Nausea • Vomiting • Fever and chills • Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy

symptoms

If you think you have a kidney stone, see a doctor right away. They may have you try drinking extra water to try to flush the stone out. You can also strain your urine and save any pieces of stone that pass, then bring them to your doctor so they can see which of the four types of stones it is. Studying the stone can help pinpoint why you have it and how to reduce the risk of future stones. If you can’t pass the stone on your own, it may need surgical removal.

Keep your kidneys healthy

Maintaining good kidney health requires the same wellness measures you take to prevent other chronic health conditions.

• EXERCISE REGULARLY • CONTROL YOUR WEIGHT • FOLLOW A BALANCED DIET

ADDITIONAL STEPS:

• QUIT SMOKING • DRINK ALCOHOL ONLY IN MODERATION • STAY HYDRATED • MONITOR YOUR CHOLESTEROL LEVELS • GET AN ANNUAL PHYSICAL • KNOW YOUR FAMILY MEDICAL HISTORY