Get Tested for Chronic Kidney Disease

Doctor giving thumbs up after doctor consultation

You may have a strong stomach and your heart may be in the right place, but how well are your kidneys working? If you have risk factors for kidney disease, ask your doctor about getting tested to find out your kidney health.

Your kidneys aren't very large—each is just the size of a computer mouse—but they're hard-working. They filter all the blood in your body every 30 minutes, removing wastes, toxins, and excess fluid. They also help control blood pressure, stimulate production of red blood cells, keep your bones healthy, and regulate blood chemicals that are essential to life.

Each kidney is made up of millions of tiny filters called nephrons. Over time, nephrons can become damaged by diabetes, high blood pressure, or other causes and stop working, a condition called chronic kidney disease[1.08 MB], or CKD. Healthy nephrons can make up the difference for a while, but if not treated, CKD usually gets worse. CKD can lead to kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or stage 5 CKD. A person with ESRD will need regular dialysis (a treatment that filters the blood) or a kidney transplant to survive.

Snapshot: Kidney Disease

Kidney diseases are the 9th leading cause of death in the United States.
Early CKD has no signs or symptoms.
Specific blood and urine tests are needed to check for CKD.
CKD tends to get worse over time.
CKD can be treated (the earlier treatment starts the better).
CKD can progress to kidney failure.

March: Kidney Awareness Around the World

World Kidney Day raises awareness about kidney health and promotes kidney disease prevention. This year's theme—Kidney Disease & Children. Act Early to Prevent It!—focuses global attention on preventing, identifying, and managing childhood kidney diseases. March is also National Kidney Month . During this month and all year long, remember to take care of your hard-working kidneys and they'll help take care of you.

Could This Be You?

More than 10% (20 million) of US adults have CKD, but because early CKD has no signs or symptoms, most don't know they have it. If you have any of these risk factors for CKD, talk to your doctor about getting tested:

High blood pressure
Diabetes
Heart disease
High cholesterol
Family history of CKD
Age 50 or older

It's also important to note that African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and American Indians are at higher risk for CKD.

Your Mileage May Vary

High blood pressure and diabetes are the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Approximately 1 out of 3 adults with diabetes and 1 out of 5 adults with high blood pressure have CKD. Also, the number of young people with type 2 diabetes is increasing; having diabetes for a longer time means more time to develop diabetes complications, including CKD.

Diabetes is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), accounting for nearly 44% of new cases. African Americans are about 3 times more likely to develop ESRD than whites. Hispanics are about 50% more likely to develop ESRD than non-Hispanics. And there's a gender gap: Men are approximately 60% more likely than women to progress to ESRD.

Find it Early, Treat it Early

If you're at risk for kidney disease, you should get your kidneys checked regularly, which is done by your doctor with simple blood and urine tests. Regular testing is your best chance for catching CKD early if you do develop it. Early treatment is most effective and can help prevent additional health problems.

Your treatment and management plan may include taking medications and making lifestyle changes—including choosing healthy foods and gettingphysically active—as well as working to keep your blood sugar and blood pressure numbers as close to target as you can.

Getting a checkup? Make sure to get your kidneys checked, too.

Kidney-Friendly Tips

Keep your blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg (or the target your doctor establishes for you).
If you have diabetes, stay in your target blood sugar range as much as possible.
Get active—physical activity helps control blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Lose weight if you're overweight.
Get tested for CKD regularly if you're at risk.
If you have CKD, meet with a dietitian to create a kidney-healthy eating plan. The plan may need to change as you get older or if your health status changes.
Take medications as instructed, and ask your doctor about blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors and ARBs, which may protect your kidneys in addition to lowering blood pressure.
If you smoke, quit. Smoking can worsen kidney disease and interfere with medication that lowers blood pressure.
Include a kidney doctor (nephrologist) on your health care team.

Prediabetes and CKD Prevention

With prediabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes puts people at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. If you have prediabetes, preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes can also help prevent kidney disease. Visit DoIHavePrediabetes.org to find out your prediabetes risk. The website features a short quiz, lifestyle tips, and links to prevention programs across the country that are recognized by CDC as part of theNational Diabetes Prevention Program.

Tracking CKD

CKD has an enormous impact on health, quality of life, and health care costs and is a national public health priority. The CKD Surveillance Systemdocuments and monitors CKD and its risk factors in the United States and tracks progress in CKD prevention, detection, and management.