7 Surprising Facts About Kidney Disease
Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Written By Mary Elizabeth Dallas on November 9, 2020
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These fist-size organs are vital to your overall health.Your kidneys have an important job to do. They filter your blood around the clock, and they turn waste products into urine. They're vital organs. Still, you might be surprised to learn that it’s possible to live a healthy, normal life with just one kidney instead of the usual two. You also might not know your kidneys have many other important jobs that affect different parts of your body. When your kidneys can’t do their job, your entire body feels it. Get the facts on kidney disease so you can protect your health.
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1. Kidney disease is common.If you have kidney disease, you're not alone. More than 20 million people in the United States may have some level of kidney disease. Millions more are at risk for the condition. People of all ages can develop kidney disease. Certain groups of people are at greater risk, including African Americans and Hispanics.
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2. Kidney disease is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease.Kidney disease affects the heart. People with kidney disease have a greater risk than others for heart disease and stroke. On the flip side, high blood pressure—a risk factor for heart disease—can also damage the kidneys. This happens gradually with time and can lead to kidney failure. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among people with kidney disease. Everyone should maintain healthy blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. This is even more important if you have kidney disease.
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3. Millions of people don’t know they have kidney disease.At first, damaged kidneys try to make up for lost function. That means early kidney disease often has no warning signs. You might not realize you have kidney disease until it’s advanced. That's often when you start to see or feel symptoms. They may include nausea, weakness, loss of appetite, and swelling in your feet and ankles. Itching, changes in urination, and trouble sleeping are other symptoms.
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4. Your risk for kidney disease increases with age.As you get older, you're more likely to develop kidney disease. It's especially common among people age 60 and older. That might be because certain conditions that can lead to kidney disease are also more common among older people. They include heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
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5. Kidney disease can lead to weak bones.The kidneys help activate vitamin D. This essential vitamin absorbs calcium and phosphorus to make your bones strong. Your kidneys also work to keep the right balance of these minerals in your body. Your body might not get the vitamin D it needs if your kidneys aren't working properly. Then your bones can become brittle or weak and more likely to break.
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6. Kidney disease affects nearly every part of your body.Kidney disease doesn’t just involve your kidneys. It can lead to low levels of red blood cells. That's anemia. This can make you feel weak and tired. Kidney disease can also weaken your immune system, which makes you more likely to get infections. When your kidneys can’t filter your blood properly, fluid starts to build up in your body and accumulate in your lungs, making it harder to breathe. The disease can affect your heart too. It can damage parts of your brain and spinal cord, which can lead to confusion or even seizures. Kidney disease also can cause depression and lower sex drive.
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7. Smoking and drinking alcohol can make kidney disease worse.Heavy drinking can cause changes to your kidneys that could make them less able to filter alcohol and other harmful substances from your blood. Alcohol also interferes with the ability of your kidneys to keep the right amount of water in your body. Heavy drinking and smoking can lead to high blood pressure, which is a major cause of kidney disease. Smoking may interfere with medications used to control high blood pressure. Smoking also reduces blood flow to your kidneys and other organs. It’s important to not smoke, so talk with your doctor about ways to quit. Drink only in moderation. That's no more than two alcoholic drinks a day for men, one for women.
7 Surprising Facts About Kidney Disease