Kidneys

KIDNEYS ARE THE H AR D EST W ORKERIN YOUR BODY KID NEYS HAVE NO VACATION They work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to clean the blood. Each day, 50 gallons of blood are filtered through 140 miles of kidney tubes and millions of filters, about four times 24/7 as much as the amount that .... passes through any other organ. The body's total blood supply circulates through the kidneys about 12 times per hour. The kidneys reabsorb and redistribute 99% of the blood volume. Only 0.1% (1-2 liters) of the blood filtered becomes urine. KID NE Y DISEASE IS OFTEN CALLED A 'SILENT DISEASE' The most common causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. Kidney disease often has no warning signs. Initial signs may be vague, like fatigue or generalized itching. Medication, dietary and lifestyle changes can increase the life of your kidneys if kidney disease is diagnosed early on. You can lose up to 90% of kidney function without realizing it, by which time it is impossible to prevent further serious problems. People can live a nearly normal life with as little as 20% of their total kidney function. 90% 20% WHO GETS KIDNEY DISEASE? In 2010, 10 % of adults in the US had chronic kidney dise ase (CKD). More than 527,000 people in the US are being treated for end-stage renal disease and African Americans are four times more likely than whites to develop it. Among adults with diab etes, 35% have CKD. Of those with high blood pressure, 20% have CKD. Among all adults 65 and older, more than 40% have CKD. CKD is more common in women than men. Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely to develop kidney failure than non - Hispanic whites. соммO N KID NEY -RELATE D A R THE MOS T PROBL KIDNEY STONES Kidney stones are a recurring problem, but they rarely cause long-term damage. They can form anywhere along the urinary tract. Refined carbohydrates and sugar, or an excess of milk or antacids may cause kidney stones. 12 percent of men and 5 percent of women in the US will feel a kidney stone during their life. This is often described as "the worst pain I've ever experienced". • Men are most likely to develop stones between the ages of 40 and 70. • Women are most likely to develop a kidney stone in their 50s. Visit SteadyHealth.com for more SteadyHealth.com medical studies or discuss your health-related experiences.