Simple things you should know about your kidneys

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR KIDNEYS:

Make urine

Remove waste and extra fluid from your blood

Control your body's chemical balance

Help control your blood pressure

Help keep your bones healthy

Help you make red blood cells.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive loss in kidney function over a period of months or years. There are five stages of failure.

PREVALENCE

About one in 10 people have some degree of CKD.

Kidney disease can affect people of all ages and races.

The older you get, the more likely you are to have some degree of kidney disease.

High blood pressure and diabetes are the most common CKD causes in adults.

Every year, millions die prematurely of complications related to kidney disease.

DETECTION AND PREVENTION

Most people have no symptoms until CKD is advanced.

You can lose up to 90 per cent of your kidney function before experiencing any symptoms.

Regardless of your age, simple and low-cost treatments can slow the progression of kidney disease, prevent complications and improve quality of life.