With all the emphasis in February to take care of your ticker, and in October to make sure you get that mammogram, have we all forgotten to get to know two humble, yet hardworking organs...our kidneys?
March is National Kidney Month and In an effort help raise awareness and appreciation for all the vital functions the kidneys perform, the National Kidney Foundation is encouraging Americans to learn more about our kidney health.
10 Critical Things Healthy Kidneys Do
- Filter 200 liters of blood a day, removing two liters of toxins, wastes and water
- Regulate the body's water balance
- Regulate blood pressure by controlling fluid levels and making the hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict
- Support healthy bones and tissues by producing the active form of vitamin D
- Produce the hormone that stimulates bone marrow to manufacture red blood cells
- Keep blood minerals in balance
- Keep electrolytes in balance
- Regulate blood acid levels
- Remove drugs from the blood
- Retrieve essential nutrients so that the body can reabsorb them
You know when you have a cold or the flu, or even a headache. But do you know if you have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), a potentially fatal condition that's often called "the silent disease" because it frequently isn't detected until it has reached the later stages? Learning some of the risk factors associated with CKD is an important step in preserving your kidney health.
- You have high blood pressure or heart disease
- You have a family history of chronic kidney disease
- You are 60 years of age or older
- Your ethnic background is African-American, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander
