By Reginia Dodson | UAB Community Health and Human Services Intern

Every organ in the body plays a vital role in creating a livable life for our bodies. Some of the smallest organs can play the biggest part and have significant impacts. Like for instance, the kidneys. They may be one of the smaller organs of the body; however, you cannot survive without them. The kidneys filter toxins out of the body and turn them into waste through our urine. Without the kidneys, our bodies would poison themselves, and we would die. So, as you can imagine, having chronic kidney disease is not a fun thing to deal with.

When people develop chronic kidney disease (CKD), their kidneys become damaged and, over time, may not clean the blood as well as healthy kidneys. If kidneys do not work well, toxic waste and extra fluid accumulate in the body and may lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and early death (CDC). According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 7 adults in the United States suffer from chronic kidney disease. “More than 1 in 7 US adults–about 35.5 million people, or 14%–are estimated to have chronic kidney disease. As many as 9 in 10 adults with chronic kidney disease do not know they have it. About 1 in 3 adults with severe chronic kidney disease do not know they have chronic kidney disease” (CDC). Diabetes and high blood pressure are the more common causes of chronic kidney disease in most adults. Other risk factors include heart disease, obesity, a family history of chronic kidney disease, inherited kidney disorders, past damage to the kidneys, and older age (CDC).

 Healthy choices in diet and exercise can help fight chronic kidney disease and even prevent it. Keep in mind that water is our best friend as well. Water will keep your body and kidneys functioning well.

References

https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/publications-resources/ckd-national-facts.html