Kidney function is critical to our overall health. When our kidneys aren't functioning properly, it impacts our body's ability to clean and filter out extra water from our blood as well as helping to control our blood pressure.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a silent killer that has been on the rise in U.S. over the past decade. CKD is a condition in which the kidneys stop working and are unable to remove fluid and waste from the body. There are typically no symptoms until 75% - 80% of kidney function is lost, at which point eventual kidney failure is likely and dialysis and/or a kidney transplant become necessary.
In a 2014 study conducted by the American Kidney Fund, they found that:
Pretty sobering, isn't it?
1. People are living longer.
From roughly age 50 onward, there is a decrease in our kidneys' ability to function properly. While it is a normal part of the aging process, it also means that past age 60 or so, people have an increased risk of developing CKD. Increased access to better healthcare, nutrition, and overall quality of life has lead to longer life expectancy, which means that more people are living well into that at-risk age range than ever before.
2. Diabetes is on the rise, too.
Diabetes is the cause of almost 45% of all new cases of kidney failure. As of 2011, an estimated 25.8 million people have diabetes - diagnosed and undiagnosed - and that figure is rising. Of those people, 40% or so will develop CKD at some point.
3. High blood pressure
High blood pressure is the cause of 28% of all new cases of kidney failure, making it second only to diabetes. According to the CDC, over 70 million adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure. That's 1 out of every 3 adults and nearly a third of them aren't even aware that they have it!
The percentage of adults in the U.S. age 30 or older who have CKD is expected to increase from 13.2% at present to 14.4% in 2020 and then again to 16.7% in 2030. If those numbers surprise you, you're not alone. Even researchers and healthcare professionals are taken aback by the statistics:
"We were surprised by the high probability of developing CKD during a lifetime,” said Thomas Hoerger, PhD, a health economist and senior fellow at RTI International. “It’s higher than most diseases that immediately jump to mind, and while the likelihood of chronic kidney disease progressing to complete kidney failure is much lower, CKD itself has been linked to a number of comorbidities and adverse health outcomes."
Although the symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease are often not noticed by patients until the disease has reached an advanced stage, there are still signs that you can look out for:
If you or someone you know is presenting with one or more of these symptoms, they could be risk indicators for kidney disease. A thorough examination by your doctor is the best way to confirm (or rule out!) a diagnosis so that you can begin any necessary treatment as soon as possible.
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