Most Americans know that they must watch their cholesterol levels to reduce their risk of heart disease, but most do not recognize that they must have the same awareness to prevent kidney disease. Twenty-six million American adults have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), and another 20 million may be at risk. The National Kidney Foundation hopes to increase knowledge of risk factors, early detection, and the important role kidneys play in overall health during National Kidney Month.

Risk factors for CKD include diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, family history of CKD, 60 years of age or older, and ethnic origin of African American, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, or Native American. According to the National Kidney Foundation, 1 in 9 Americans has CKD but most do not know it, making this potentially fatal disease a "silent killer." Early detection is the best way to prevent the progression of the disease to kidney failure. Three tests are used to detect CKD—blood pressure, serum creatinine, and urine albumin. Creatinine is a waste product of muscle activity which is normally removed from the blood by the kidneys. When kidneys are damaged, blood levels of creatinine rise. Albumin is a blood protein which is normally reabsorbed into the bloodstream by the kidneys. When kidneys are damaged, proteins leak into the urine.

Kidneys help maintain normal health by removing fluid wastes from the body. They also regulate body water and levels of such chemicals as sodium, potassium, and calcium. They remove toxins and drugs and they release hormones into the bloodstream that help to regulate blood pressure, make new red blood cells, and strengthen bones. A test known as the glomerular filtration rate is the best estimate of kidney function.

The two main causes of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure, which account for two-thirds of all cases. High blood pressure is both a cause and a result of CKD. Symptoms of CKD are feeling tired, trouble concentrating, poor appetite, trouble sleeping, night-time muscle cramping, swollen feet and ankles, puffiness around the eyes, dry, itchy skin, and frequent urination, especially at night. CKD leads to heart disease which is the main cause of death for this disease. Progression of kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a transplant to preserve life.

Early detection is the best way to prevent progression of the disease. Patients should have their blood pressure and urine albumin checked at each doctor visit and serum creatinine checked with their lab workup.

Reference: http://www.kidney.org/kidneydisease/ckd/index.cfm.

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