``Kidney disease affects over 30 million people in the United States ... and most people don't know it!``
Diabetes
… is the number one cause of kidney failure. According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, “Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure, accounting for nearly 44 percent of new cases.”
High Blood Pressure
… may indicate you have a hereditary condition that causes kidney failure. If you have a family member with kidney disease, you should have your kidney function evaluated.
Family History of Kidney Disease
… may indicate you have a hereditary condition that causes kidney failure. If you have a family member with kidney disease, you should have your kidney function evaluated.
Heart Disease
… affects the blood vessels and in turn can cause damage to the kidneys. If you have a history of heart disease, you should talk to your doctor about your kidney function.
Heritage
… African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Asian Americans – are at higher risk for kidney disease. While anyone may develop kidney disease, minorities appear to be at increased risk.
Age
… Being 60 years of age and older may put you in a highter risk category. A decrease in kidney function occurs naturally as part of the aging process.
STAY ON TOP OF YOUR KIDNEY HEALTH
STEP 1
Do you have a primary care (family) doctor?
If you have a doctor, great! You should visit your doctor for annual check-ups.
If you don’t have a primary care (family) doctor, you should find one.
Do you have insurance? If so, your insurance company may have a list of doctors on their website. (for example: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee has a doctor finder here).
If you don’t have insurance, you may want to explore available public health resources in your area. You can start exploring your options by clicking here.
STEP 2
Get an annual health exam.
You may think, “I don’t feel sick, so I don’t need to see a doctor.” However, how you feel is not always the most accurate indication of your health.
Did you know that Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a silent killer and often there are no symptoms or side effects until the kidneys fail? It’s true. So, schedule your health exam and know whether you are at risk.
Discuss these things with your doctor:
- Are you diabetic? What is your A1C? What is normal for you? If not normal, what steps can you take to control it?
- Do you have high blood pressure? What is your blood pressure reading? What is normal? If not normal, what steps can you take to control it?
- How well are your kidneys working? (Your doctor may complete tests to determine your kidney function. One test simply checks for protein in your urine, which can be a sign of kidney disease. Protein can leak into the urine when the filters in the kidneys are damaged. In addition, your doctor may test your blood to determine your “GFR” which measures how much blood your kidneys filter each minute. A GFR of 60 or higher is in the normal range. A GFR below 60 may mean you have kidney disease.
STEP 3
If you are at risk, ask for a referral.
Let your doctor know that you are interested in managing your risk for kidney disease.
You can ask your doctor to provide a referral to Reach Kidney Care for individualized help with your kidney care needs.
Choose a location from the toolbar and download the referral form.
STEP 4
Arm yourself with education.
We encourage you to talk to your doctor first.
Then, know that we are available to help.
We understand that you may want to take the time to do a little research on your own.
Here are a few useful links to help you explore ways to maintain complete health:
Diabetes- American Diabetes Association
High blood pressure- American Heart Association
Kidney Disease-