Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that results in a gradual loss of kidney function over time. If
kidney disease gets worse, wastes can build to high levels in your blood and make you feel sick. You may
develop complications like high blood pressure, anemia (low blood count), weak bones, poor nutritional
health and nerve damage. Also, kidney disease increases your risk of having heart and blood vessel disease.
These problems may happen slowly over a long period of time. Chronic kidney disease may be caused by
diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders.
To increase awareness of the importance of kidney disease, InHealth Mutual is proudly participating in
National Kidney Month by encouraging our members to get screened.
Who’s at risk for CKD?
• Anyone with high blood pressure, diabetes
• Anyone with a family history of kidney failure
• African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders and American Indians
• Anyone age 60 and older
• Individuals who are obese (body mass index of 30 or above)
The best prevention of CKD is to be tested. The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) recommends three simple
tests to check for kidney disease:
1. Getting your blood pressure tested. Keeping blood pressure under control is important to lower risk
of kidney disease, heart and blood vessel disease, and stroke. Your pressure should be below 140/90
on a regular basis.
2. Having a urinalysis test which is a test that checks a sample of your urine for the amount of protein,
blood (red blood cells and white blood cells) and other things. Protein and red and white blood cells
are not normally found in the urine, so having too much of any of these may mean kidney disease.
3. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) test. The GFR tells how well your kidneys are working to remove
wastes from your blood. GFR is estimated from results of a serum (or blood) creatinine test. It is the
best way to check kidney function.
Your kidneys are an important part of your body. To learn more about how your kidneys work, visit the
American Kidney Fund at www.kidneyfund.org.
Get these screenings as a part of your annual physical exam with your primary care doctor.
We value your health!
Sources: The National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org), American Kidney Fund (www.kidneyfund.org).