The way kidneys work is complex. Daily this organ controls our water and salt levels, ensuring that we are healthy and have consistent blood pressure.
Here is what kidneys do:
- Manages the chemical balance in your body
- Keeps bones healthy
- Cleans your blood from waste, toxins and excess fluid
- Regulates blood pressure
- Creates red blood cells
- Generates urine
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Your kidneys consist of millions of filters called nephrons. The nephrons make urine while filtering your blood from waste and toxins. If the nephrons are damaged, they can stop working, which will affect kidney function. The early stages of kidney disease have no symptoms but are treatable. Kidney disease that isn’t treated, can lead to kidney failure. Kidneys can lose up to 90% of their capacity before you experience any symptoms. Below a certain point, kidney failure will impact the entire body, make you very ill and can even be life-threatening.
Who is at risk?
People with one or more of the following: high blood pressure, diabetes, a family history of diabetes, are overweight, smoke and are over 50.
What can you do?
- Be active and keep fit
- Eat a healthy diet
- Check & monitor blood sugar levels
- Check & monitor blood pressure
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid smoking
- Don’t overconsume over-the-counter anti-inflammatory/pain-killers
Speak to your doctor to get your kidney function checked if you have any of the risk factors. Remember, early CKD has no signs or symptoms.
To learn more about Kidney Health & Well being please visit Kidney Health Australia
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