90% of adults with kidney disease don’t know that they’re affected

Your kidneys may be compact — each roughly the size of a computer mouse — but they’re doing a full-time job and then some. Every 30 minutes, they filter all the blood in your body, which amounts to roughly 50 gallons a day. Beyond removing waste, they also:

• Help control your blood pressure
• Signal your body to make new red blood cells to replace old ones and keep oxygen flowing, which is critical for energy, organ function and survival
• Support bone health
• Balance essential chemicals your body relies on for functions that keep us alive

Healthy kidneys keep the rest of you running smoothly — but many people don’t realize how common kidney disease is. About 1 in 7 U.S. adults has chronic kidney disease (CKD), but more than 90% of them don’t know it.

CKD often develops silently, over time. Damaged kidneys can’t filter blood properly, causing waste and fluid to build up gradually. As CKD progresses, it can contribute to a range of complications, including heart disease, anemia, infections, appetite loss and depression.

Because symptoms don’t show up until later stages of the disease, staying on top of checkups and screenings based on your individual risk factors is essential.

Find out more about how to prevent CDK with help from UC Health PPO Plans: A little TLC can keep your kidneys going strong, and play the Kidney Quest game!