March is National Kidney Month!

Kidney disease is a growing epidemic in the United States. Early kidney disease has no symptoms. In fact, many people don’t even know that they have kidney disease until their kidneys are about to fail. Kidney disease does not go away, but it CAN be treated. The sooner you know you have kidney disease, the sooner you can take steps to keep your kidneys healthy longer and prevent further complications.

In honor of National Kidney Month, the Kidney & Urology Foundation of America is calling on all Americans to take simple measures to protect their kidneys. Kidney disease can be treated, if detected early. The right treatment can help prevent further kidney damage and slow the progression of kidney disease. Know the risks for kidney disease. High blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular (heart) disease or a family history of kidney failure are risk factors for developing kidney disease. Talk to your family members about their medical histories. Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider. If you are at risk, get your blood and urine checked for kidney disease.

For more information on what YOU CAN DO to protect your kidneys, familiarize yourself with the fact sheets provided by the National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP).

For more information about World Kidney Day: www.worldkidneyday.org