March is National Kidney Awareness month. The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is urging all Americans to think about their kidneys and give them a good checkup. Your kidneys have 3 major functions; filter 200 liters of blood a day, regulate blood pressure and produce red blood cells. These func-tions make the kidneys prone to disease. According to NKF 1 out of 3 Americans are at risk for kidney disease due to diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney failure.
There are 30 Million Americans with kidney disease and most do not know this because there are often no symptoms until the disease has gotten worse. Kidney disease risk can be reduced by controlling your blood pressure, controlling blood sugar, maintaining proper weight, stop smok-ing, exercise regular, avoid excessive use of medications that can cause harm to your kidneys (Ibuprofen and naproxen).
Everyone should discuss their lifestyle and health history with their healthcare provider to determine whether he/she recommends a simple urine test to screen for albuminuria (protein in urine) which is one of the earlier signs of kidney disease. Prevention is better than cure, especially when a disease has no cure.
Written by By LaVella Head