Simple things you should know about your kidneys…
Published:Monday | March 21, 2016 | 12:00 AM
Did you know that your kidneys:
- Make urine.
- Remove waste and extra fluid from your blood.
- Control your body's chemical balance.
- Help control your blood pressure.
- Help keep your bones healthy.
- Help you make red blood cells.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive loss in kidney function over a period of months or years. There are five stages of failure.
PREVALENCE
- About one in 10 people have some degree of CKD.
- Kidney disease can affect people of all ages and races.
- The older you get, the more likely you are to have some degree of kidney disease.
- High blood pressure and diabetes are the most common CKD causes in adults.
- Every year, millions die prematurely of complications related to kidney disease.
DETECTION AND
PREVENTION
- Most people have no symptoms until CKD is advanced.
- You can lose up to 90 per cent of your kidney function before experiencing any symptoms.
- Regardless of your age, simple and low-cost treatments can slow the progression of kidney disease, prevent complications and improve quality of life.