March is National Kidney Month and the National Kidney Foundation is urging all Americans to give their kidneys a well-deserved checkup.
The kidneys are two fist-sized organs, located just below the rib cage, in your lower back. The left kidney is on the left side of the spine and the right kidney is on the right side of the spine. Blood flows through the kidneys many times a day. They maintain overall health by serving the following functions:
- Filtering waste out of 200 liters of blood each day
- Regulating the body’s salt, potassium, and acid content
- Removing toxins from the body.
- Balancing the body’s fluids
- Releasing hormones that regulate blood pressure
- Producing an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones
- Controlling the production of red blood cells
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control, some quick facts on Kidney Disease are:
- Kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death in the country.
- More than 26 million Americans have kidney disease, and most don’t know it.
- There are over 95,000 people waiting for kidney transplants.
- Currently, more than 590,000 people have kidney failure in the U.S. today.
- Risk factors for kidney disease are hypertension, diabetes, family history, and age over 60.
Symptoms of kidney disease include:
- Swelling of the face, hands, abdomen, ankles, and feet
- Blood in the urine
- Puffy eyes
- Painful urination
- Increased thirst
- Fatigue
Oftentimes, kidney failure can be prevented or delayed through early detection and proper treatment of underlying diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure which can slow additional damage to the kidneys.
If you are 18 years or older with diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease or a family history of kidney disease, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor and ask that you be screened for kidney disease.
To make an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5486
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.