Blood pressure and High blood pressure is the second most common cause of. Your heart pumps your blood through tubes (blood vessels) called arteries and veins. When your blood moves through the blood vessels, it pushes against the inside of them and creates pressure. Blood pressure is the pressure created inside your arteries and veins when your blood lows through. What s healthy? 120/80 120/80 (120 over 80) or less is considered healthy for most people. 140/90 140/90 (140 over 90) or more is too high. What does a blood pressure test do? It measures how hard your heart is working to pump blood. It uses an in latable cuff that tightens around your arm and slowly loosens. As it loosens, a meter measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart pumps. A blood pressure test can be done by your doctor or nurse, at home, or in some pharmacies and grocery stores. Check your blood pressure regularly, and tell your doctor if you get a high result. High blood pressure and your kidneys High blood pressure (hypertension) means your heart is working too hard to pump your blood. It usually shows no signs. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get tested. High blood pressure can cause. When blood lows too forcefully through the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys, this can hurt or weaken these tiny vessels. Over time, this can lead to. Kidney disease can cause high blood pressure. Healthy kidneys help control your blood pressure. When your kidneys don t work well, they don t do a good job controlling your blood pressure. This can cause high blood pressure.
Blood pressure and Keep a healthy blood pressure to help prevent or control. Take your medicine every day, as directed Skipping doses of your medicine can be harmful to your health. If your doctor told you to take medicine to lower your blood pressure, take your medicine exactly how your doctor told you to. Follow a heart-healthy diet There are certain changes you can make in your diet that can help keep your heart healthy. Limit salt. Eat less 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium (salt) per day. Limit unhealthy fats. Eat less 13mg saturated fat per day and avoid trans fats (found on a nutrition label). Eat nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Do not smoke or use tobacco Smoking raises your blood pressure and can make worse. Get advice from your doctor about how to quit. Exercise most days of the week Exercise is important for heart health. Set a goal to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days per week. Be creative! Try walking, dancing, or playing a sport. Keep a healthy weight Even losing just a few pounds can make a big difference for your health. Talk to your doctor about how much you should weigh. Limit alcohol Drinking too much can increase your blood pressure. Men should have no more 2 drinks per day, women should have no more 1 drink per day. Reduce stress Stress can raise your blood pressure. Work with your doctor to learn ways to manage and cope with stress. For more information about the connection between high blood pressure and, visit: KidneyFund.org/hbp
Diabetes and Diabetes is the most common cause of. Diabetes is a disease that causes your body to have trouble making or using insulin. Insulin is a hormone (a chemical your body makes) that helps your body turn the sugar you eat into energy. In a healthy person, insulin controls the amount of sugar in your blood, and keeps the sugar at a healthy level. Healthy kidney Sugar Kidney Diabetes and your kidneys Bloodstream Blood vessels In a person with diabetes, insulin is not used the right way, and too much sugar stays in your blood. Over time, having too much sugar in your blood can damage the small blood vessels in your kidneys and can lead to. Diabetic kidney Sugar Bloodstream Blood vessels Kidney Too much sugar stays in your blood. Diabetes can also damage the body s nerves. The nerves in your bladder make you feel like you need to urinate (pee) when your bladder is full. If your nerves are damaged, you might not feel the need to urinate. This can cause urine to build up in the bladder, or stay in the bladder too long, which can lead to kidney damage. You are at higher risk for diabetes if you: 45+ Are over 45 years old Are overweight Have a family member Are African-American, with diabetes Hispanic, Native American, or Asian Pacific Islander If you think you might be at risk, talk to your doctor about getting tested. Tests to diagnose diabetes Fasting glucose test - Measures how much glucose (sugar) is in your blood after fasting overnight (not eating or drinking). Non-fasting glucose test - Measures how much glucose (sugar) is in your blood about 2 hours after you have had something to eat or drink. A1C blood test - An A1C test is used to diagnose diabetes or measure how well you are managing your diabetes if you already have it. It measures the average amount of glucose (sugar) that has been in your blood over the last three months. Have high blood pressure Low risk of diabetes 99 100 140 141 High risk of diabetes 5.7% 5.7%-6.4% 6.5% Normal Pre-diabetic Diabetes
Diabetes and Control your diabetes to help prevent. Control your blood sugar Take your medicine exactly the way your doctor told you to. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar often to know your levels. When you have diabetes, your blood sugar should be: at less 2 hours after Before bedtime eating eating 70-130 180 90-150 Visit your doctor regularly, and have an A1C blood test at least two times a year. Aim to have an A1C of 7% or less if you have diabetes. Work with your health care team Visit your doctor regularly. Tell them if your blood sugar is often too high or too low. Meet with a diabetes educator. A diabetes educator is a health care professional who can teach you how to manage your diabetes. Meet with a dietitian. A dietitian can help you make a healthy eating plan that works for you and your family. Follow a diabetic diet Keep a low-salt, low-sugar diet. Limit unhealthy fats. Eat less 13mg saturated fat per day and avoid trans fats (found on a nutrition label). Eat nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Choose foods that are high in iber. Drink water instead of juice or soda. Practice portion control. Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables, one quarter with lean protein (like chicken breast or ish) and one quarter with whole grains. Exercise most days of the week Set a goal to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days per week. Be creative! Try walking, dancing or playing a sport. Keep a healthy weight Talk to your doctor about how much you should weigh. Even losing just a few pounds can make a big difference for your health. Do not smoke or use tobacco Get advice from your doctor about how to quit. Smoking can make diabetes and worse. For more information about the connection between diabetes and, visit: KidneyFund.org/diabetes
All about The kidneys Your kidneys are vital organs. You need them to live, just like you need your heart and lungs. They ilter waste and extra luid out of your blood to make urine. Your kidneys also do other important jobs including: Control chemicals and luid in your body. Help control your blood pressure. Help keep your bones healthy. Help your body make red blood cells. Most people have two kidneys. Each kidney is located near the middle of your back, one on each side of your spine. Each kidney is connected to your bladder by a thin tube called a ureter. kidney ureter bladder Chronic (CKD) CKD means you have lasting damage to your kidneys that may get worse over time. It is most often caused by diabetes or high blood pressure. CKD may be preventable. Finding and treating CKD early may delay or even prevent kidney failure. Healthy kidney Damaged kidney Blood enters the kidney Blood enters the kidney Blood goes through the kidney ilters and waste is carried out through urine Filtered blood exits the kidney Damaged kidneys do not ilter out waste from the blood as they should Waste stays in the body instead of being carried out through urine You are at higher risk for CKD if you: 60+ Have diabetes Have high blood pressure Have heart disease Have a family member Are African-American, Are over 60 years old with Hispanic, Native American, or Asian Pacific Islander
All about Signs of advanced CKD usually gets worse slowly. Most people have no symptoms until the kidneys are badly damaged. If your kidneys are beginning to fail, you may notice any of the following symptoms: Swelling in your feet and ankles Itchy skin Too much or not enough urine (pee) Muscle cramps Trouble catching your breath Nausea and vomiting Trouble sleeping Not feeling hungry Tests for egfr test estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (blood creatinine test ) Urine test A blood test that shows how well your kidneys are working. Your egfr is a number based on your age, gender, race/ethnicity, and how much creatinine (a natural waste product) is in your blood. You might have if your egfr is less 60 for three months or more. A test to look for blood or protein (albumin) in your urine. Blood or protein in your urine can be an early sign of. There are usually no visible signs of blood or protein in your urine unless your kidney damage is very bad. Preventing Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of. If you have either of these conditions, talk to your doctor about how to control your blood sugar or blood pressure. Live a healthy lifestyle: Follow a low-fat, Set a goal to exercise Have regular checkups Do not smoke low-salt diet for 30 minutes a day, with your doctor or use tobacco 5 days per week Kidney failure Limit alcohol Keep a healthy weight Kidney failure happens when the damage to your kidneys is very bad and your kidneys stop working. It is also known as ESRD (end-stage renal disease). ESRD has no cure, and you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live. For more information about chronic, visit: KidneyFund.org/ckd
Tests for kidney health egfr test estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (blood creatinine test ) The egfr blood test shows how well your kidneys are working. Your egfr is a number based on your age, gender, race/ethnicity, and how much creatinine (a natural waste product) is in your blood. Healthy kidneys ilter creatinine out of your blood. Having too much creatinine in your blood can be a sign of. 15 If your egfr is below 15, you may have kidney failure and need to start dialysis or have a kidney transplant. 20 25 30 35 40 45 egfr is under 60 for 3 months 60 Iforyour more, you may have. 60 Urine test If your egfr is 60 or more, this usually means your kidneys are working the way they should. A urine test looks for blood or protein (albumin) in your urine. A technician will look at a sample of your urine under a microscope to check for blood or protein. Blood or protein in your urine could be a sign that your kidneys are not working as well as they should. Tests for diabetes Low risk of diabetes To diagnose diabetes Fasting glucose test - Measures how much glucose (sugar) is in your blood after fasting overnight (not eating or drinking). Non-fasting glucose test - Measures how much glucose (sugar) is in your blood about 2 hours after you have had something to eat or drink. A1C blood test - An A1C test is used to diagnose diabetes or measure how well you are managing your diabetes if you already have it. It measures the average amount of glucose (sugar) that has been in your blood over the last three months. 99 100 140 141 High risk of diabetes 5.7% 5.7%-6.4% 6.5% Normal Pre-diabetic Diabetes If you have diabetes Check your blood sugar often to know your levels. In most cases, your blood sugar should be: eating 70-130 Before LESS THAN hours 180 2after eating Aim to have an A1C of 7% or less if you have diabetes. 90-150 atbedtime
Tests for kidney health Blood pressure test A blood pressure test measures how hard your heart is working to pump your blood. High blood pressure is the second most common cause of. Kidney disease can also cause high blood pressure. 120/80 140/90 120/80 (120 over 80) or less is considered healthy for most people. 140/90 (140 over 90) or more is too high. Body mass index (BMI) test BMI is a measure of body fat based on your height and weight. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of. Body mass index (BMI) Underweight Normal Overweight Obese LESS THAN 18.5 18.5-24.9 25-29.9 30+ Visit your doctor as soon as possible to discuss your test results! Important things to remember 1. When your kidneys are permanently damaged and don t work as well as they should, it is called chronic (CKD). 2. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of chronic and kidney failure. 3. The best ways to help prevent are to keep a healthy blood sugar level and a healthy blood pressure. 4. Finding and treating early may help prevent kidney failure. 5. The best way to know how well your kidneys are working is to get a blood or urine test. For more information about testing for, visit: KidneyFund.org/tests
egfr estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (blood creatinine test ) egfr test The egfr blood test shows how well your kidneys are working. Your egfr is a number based on the amount of creatinine (a natural waste product) in your blood. Creatinine is a waste product that comes from using your muscles. People who are more muscular naturally have higher levels of creatinine. Healthy kidneys ilter creatinine out of your blood. Having too much creatinine in your blood can be a sign of. Learn your egfr The only way to know your egfr is to have a blood test to check how much creatinine is in your blood. egfr is calculated using your creatinine level, age, gender and race/ethnicity. Kidney disease 15 20 25 Kidney failure 60 60 15 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 Normal If your egfr is 60 or above This is a normal result for most people. Ask your doctor when you should be tested again. Follow a healthy lifestyle to prevent. If your egfr is less 60 An egfr of less 60 for 3 months or more could mean you have. If this was your irst egfr test, ask your doctor when you will need to be tested again. If your egfr is less 15 An egfr of less 15 could mean you have kidney failure. Visit your doctor right away.
egfr and the stages of chronic (CKD) Stage 1: Kidney damage and egfr greater 90 Stage 1 CKD means you have some signs of kidney damage (like protein in your urine, or physical damage to the kidneys), but your egfr is greater 90. An egfr greater 90 is considered healthy if you do not have other signs of kidney damage. Follow a healthy lifestyle, and talk to your doctor about how to prevent your kidney damage from getting worse. Stage 2: Kidney damage and egfr 60-89 Stage 2 CKD means you have some signs of kidney damage (like protein in your urine, or physical damage to the kidneys), but your egfr is between 60 and 89. An egfr between 60 and 89 is considered healthy if you do not have other signs of kidney damage. Follow a healthy lifestyle, and talk to your doctor about how to prevent your kidney damage from getting worse. Stage 3: egfr 30-59 Stage 3 CKD means your kidneys are moderately damaged, and are not working as well as they should. Talk to your doctor about seeing a nephrologist (a kidney doctor). Stage 4: egfr 15-29 Stage 4 CKD means your kidneys are severely damaged, and are not working nearly as well as they should. Work with your nephrologist to make a treatment plan. Stage 5: egfr less 15 Stage 5 CKD means your kidneys are getting close to complete failure, or have already failed. Once your kidneys have failed, you will need to start dialysis or have a kidney transplant to live. Slow or help prevent! If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar. Keep a healthy blood pressure. Follow a low-fat, low-salt diet. Do not smoke or use tobacco. Set a goal to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days per week. Keep a healthy weight. Ask your doctor if there are any medicines you should take to protect your kidneys. For more information about egfr, visit: KidneyFund.org/egfr-test