"Am I at Risk for Kidney Disease?"

It's a question you may never have asked yourself. But probably you should. Your life could depend on it. If you are like most people, you probably don't realize how important your kidneys are. Their job of "cleansing" the blood however, is crucial to your health and well-being.

Tragically, more than 20 million Americans suffer from some form of kidney or urologic disease -that's one out of every 13! This year alone, 60,000 of them will succumb to end stage renal disease - a number that continues to rise.

Yet, there is hope. Armed with a better understanding of this disease....

....you can protect yourself and those you love.

I feel fine, Why should I worry about my kidneys?

Because you could have kidney disease and not even know it. By the time you start having symptoms, your kidney may be so badly damaged, there's no hope of repair. Medication may slow the process, but eventually your kidneys would fail completely.

What happens when your kidney fail?

Your kidneys are small, but vitally important to your overall health. Unless you go on dialysis, or are lucky enough to have a kidney transplant, you will die.

Isn't dialysis a simple treatment?

How do you feel about being hooked up to a machine for several hours three times a week? Monitoring everything you eat? Living with tubes coming out of you - and worrying about infection at the graft site?

Dialysis has given millions of kidney patients a "second chance" at life - but it's not a life anyone would choose to lead.

Won't a transplant cure kidney disease, anyway?

Thanks to the NFK NY/NJ, the general public is more aware of the need for organ donations and the success of transpantation. However, not everyone is a candidate. And there is a crucial need for organs in our area. The grim reality is that thousands of people die each year waiting for a kidney donation.

How I can protect myself from kidney disease?

For starters, keep your blood pressure under control. Uncontrolled high blood pressure, along with diabetes, are two main causes of kidney failure in the U.S. Have you had your blood pressure checked lately?

Won't my doctor know if I have kidney trouble?

Kidney disease can begin at any time, happen to anyone. When was the last time you had a full medical check-up? Be honest. If you can't remember, then it's time to make that appointment. Make sure to ask your doctor to test for kidney function. Early detection of a problem could save your life!

Do I really need to worry? Kidney disease disease isn't in my family.

Have you or anyone in your family had: A heart attack? A stroke? Diabetes? High blood pressure? Then you have plenty of reason to worry.

What else causes kidney disease?

Kidney disease can strike anyone. Ask yourself:

• Am I overweight?
• Out of shape?
• Do I smoke, or drink too much?
• Am I taking too much over-the-counter pain medication?

If you answered YES to any of the above, you may be settting the stage for kidney failure.

So, making changes in my lifestyle can save my life?

Absolutely! And don't forget those check-ups. If you notice any of these warning signs of kidney disease, however, contact your doctor without delay.

• Burning or difficulty during urination
• Greater frequency of urination, especially at night
• Bloody-apperaing urine
• Puffiness around the eyes, swelling of hands and feet
• Pain in small of back, just below ribs
• High blood pressure

Now That You Know....

Make the time for a full medical check-up! Ask your doctor to test for kidney function.

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• are two bean-shaped organs, one on each side of the backbone.
• Represent about 0.5% of the total weight of the body,
• but receive 20-25% of the total arterial blood pumped by the heart.
• Each contains some one million nephrons.