Learn more about kidney disease
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Your kidneys are two small organs shaped like beans, sitting just below your ribs on each side of your back
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They clean your blood by removing waste and extra water, which leaves your body as urine (pee)
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They help control your blood pressure and keep the right balance of salt and fluids in your body
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They make a hormone that tells your body to produce red blood cells, which carry oxygen
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They keep your bones strong by helping your body use vitamin D
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Kidney disease means your kidneys are damaged and cannot clean your blood as well as they should
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It usually develops slowly usually over many years — most people do not feel sick until the disease is very advanced.
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There are different stages, from mild (early) to severe (late); the most serious stage is called kidney failure
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When kidneys fail, a person needs dialysis (a machine that cleans the blood) or a kidney transplant to survive
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Kidney disease is a long-term condition, but catching it early can slow it down or stop it from getting worse
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People with diabetes are at the highest risk — high blood sugar can damage the kidneys over time
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People with high blood pressure are also at high risk — it puts too much force on the kidney's small blood vessels
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People with heart disease have a higher risk for kidney disease
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Kidney disease runs in families, so if a parent or sibling has it, your risk is higher
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People of South Asian, Southeast Asian Black, Indigenous, and East Asian backgrounds get kidney disease more often
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People born in the Caribbean, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka have higher risks for kidney disease than those born in Canada
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Older adults (over age 60) are more likely to develop kidney disease
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Kidney disease means your kidneys are damaged and cannot clean your blood as well as they should
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It usually develops slowly usually over many years — most people do not feel sick until the disease is very advanced.
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There are different stages, from mild (early) to severe (late); the most serious stage is called kidney failure
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When kidneys fail, a person needs dialysis (a machine that cleans the blood) or a kidney transplant to survive
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Kidney disease is a long-term condition, but catching it early can slow it down or stop it from getting worse
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Most people feel no symptoms in the early stages, which is why testing is so important
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Warning signs in later stages include: swollen feet or ankles, feeling very tired, and needing to pee more at night
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Your urine (pee) may look foamy or have blood in it
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You may feel short of breath, have trouble concentrating, or lose your appetite
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The only way to know for sure is through a simple blood test (eGFR) and urine test (ACR) ordered by your doctor
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There is no cure, but the right treatment can slow it down or even stop it from getting worse
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Medicines that control blood pressure and blood sugar protect the kidneys
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Your doctor may suggest eating less salt, protein, and potassium depending on your stage
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Regular check-ups and blood/urine tests help track how your kidneys are doing
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If kidneys stop working, dialysis or a kidney transplant will be needed to stay alive
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Get tested — ask your doctor for a kidney check, especially if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, a family history of kidney disease, or belong to a high-risk ethnic or immigrant group
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Eat healthy foods — cut back on salt, sugary drinks, and processed (packaged) foods
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Stay active — even a 30-minute walk most days helps protect your kidneys
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Don't smoke — this can damage the kidneys over time
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Take your medications as prescribed and go to all your follow-up appointments
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