Kidney Disease
The NKF of Indiana, Inc. (NKFI) encourages Hoosiers to consider some of the many ways their kidneys quietly support their health day-to-day (filtering their blood, controlling blood pressure, supporting healthy bones) and how much their health will suffer if they develop chronic kidney disease. A critical first step toward focusing on kidney health is to know personal and family health histories.
If you have one or more of the following risk factors, the NKFI suggests you to talk to your doctor about being screened for kidney disease or contact NKFI for a free screening in your area.
Risk Factors for CKD
Primary Risk Factors
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Secondary Risk Factors
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You can help keep your hard-working kidneys healthy by following this 10-step program:
10 Ways to Keep Kidneys Healthy
- Monitor blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Monitor blood glucose.
- Control weight.
- Don’t smoke.
- Follow a healthful diet.
- Don’t overuse NSAIDS or other OTC painkillers.
- Get an annual physical exam.
- Find out if CKD, diabetes or heart disease runs in your family.
- Exercise regularly.
- Talk to your doctor about being tested for CKD (if you’re at risk, if you are unsure ask).
To learn more about CKD risk factors, prevention, treatment and free screenings, visit www.kidneyindiana.org or call (317) 722-5640 or (800) 382-9971.
The Facts About Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
- 26 million Americans - 1 in 8 US adults - have CKD and another 20 million more are at increased risk.
- Early detection can help prevent the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure.
- Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best estimate of kidney function.
- Hypertension causes CKD and CKD causes hypertension.
- Persistent proteinuria means CKD.
- High risk groups include those with diabetes, hypertension and family history of kidney disease.
- African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and Seniors are at increased risk.
- Three simple tests can detect CKD: blood pressure, urine and serum creatinine.
What is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?
Chronic kidney disease includes conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep you healthy by doing the jobs listed. If kidney disease gets worse, wastes can build to high levels in your blood and make you feel sick. You may develop complications like high blood pressure, anemia (low blood count), weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage. Also, kidney disease increases your risk of having heart and blood vessel disease. These problems may happen slowly over a long period of time. Chronic kidney disease may be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders. Early detection and treatment can often keep chronic kidney disease from getting worse. When kidney disease progresses, it may eventually lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life. 