Kidney disease is the fastest growing noncommunicable disease in the United States, according to theAmerican Kidney Fund.
Kidney disease affects 37 million Americans, or 15 percent of all adults.
Once kidneys fail, people need lifelong dialysis or a kidney transplant.
With good management and new treatments, kidney disease can be prevented and managed.
Here are nine ways to keep your kidneys healthy and slow down progression of the disease.
High blood pressure is also strongly associated with kidney disease.
Other risks includeheart disease, obesity, family history, past kidney damage and aging.
African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans are at higher risk than white people.
As we age, our kidneys lose some of their function.
9 signs of kidney disease
When your kidneys arent functioning properly, you may experience the following.
Fatigue, lack of energy, trouble concentrating
2.
Dry and itchy skin
4.
Need to urinate more frequently
5.Blood in urine
6.
Puffiness around the eyes
7.
Ankle and foot swelling
8.
Lack of appetite
9.
Muscle cramping
Physical warning signs for kidney disease are very rare.
Most kidney disease is detected through blood work.
However, if you have persistent foam or blood in your urine, this may indicate a kidney disorder.
People passing kidney stones may experience sharp pain that comes in waves or spreads to the groin area.
The National Kidney Foundation says stones increase your risk of kidney disease.
Certain immunologic drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, some antibiotics and other medications can increase your risk for kidney disease.
Because kidney disease is usually silent, tests are the only way to know if you have damage.
The results will tell you how well your kidneys are working.
When kidneys arent working properly, the level of creatinine builds up in the bloodstream.
A urine test can detect whether protein is present that can pass into the urine when kidneys are damaged.
Kidney disease is a common complication from diabetes.
An A1C test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past three months.
