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Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 1 in 7 U.S. adults—an estimated 37 million Americans.1 For Americans with diabetes or high blood pressure—the two most common causes of kidney disease—the risk for CKD is even greater. Nearly 1 in 3 people with diabetes and 1 in 5 people with high blood pressure have kidney disease.1 Other risk factors for developing kidney disease include heart disease and a family history of kidney failure.

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Despite the prevalence of kidney disease in the United States, as many as 9 in 10 adults who have CKD are not aware they have the disease.1 Early-stage kidney disease usually has no symptoms, and many people don’t know they have CKD until it is very advanced. Kidney disease often gets worse over time and may lead to kidney failure and other health problems, such as stroke or heart attack.

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Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) occurs when kidneys are no longer able to clean toxins and waste product from the blood and perform their functions to full capacity.

What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

  • High blood pressure is the number two cause of kidney failure.

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  • In our African American community, almost half (more than 42%) of African American adults have high blood pressure.

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  • African Americans are six times more likely to get kidney failure from their high blood pressure. 

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  • If diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease are caught early, they can usually be managed.  However, almost 1 in 5 African Americans are uninsured.  As a result, our healthcare choices may be limited.

Kidney Disease and the African American Community

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Should You Get Tested?

Early kidney disease usually has no symptoms. You should get tested for kidney disease if you have any of these risk factors:

  • Diabetes

  • High blood pressure

  • Heart disease

  • Family history of kidney failure

Get Tested

It's ok to ask your doctor for a kidney test. Your doctor can test your blood and uring to find out if you have kidney disease.  Ask your doctor how often should you get tested.

Ask Your Doctor

If you find out early you do have kidney disease, you can get treatment to help delay or prevent kidney failure.  Treatment may include such as:

  • Changing diet

  • Exercising

  • Taking medication

Treatment

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