The kidneys are a very important organ in the body and play many roles in the body: removing waste, balancing water and electrolytes, controlling blood pressure, maintaining bone health, regulating endocrine hormones, assisting in red blood cell production, etc. Do you know about your kidneys? Most people do not understand the importance of the kidneys to their health, and even when they have kidney disease, they do not know what role the kidneys actually play in our body. Some kidney diseases can be slowed down or even cured if they are detected earlier. You know about your heart, you know about your lungs, and many people even know about your liver, but how much do you know about your kidneys? Your kidneys play many roles: removing waste, balancing water and electrolytes, controlling blood pressure, maintaining bone health, regulating endocrine hormones, assisting in red blood cell production, and more. Every day, your kidneys will filter 200L of blood, and as the blood flows through them, the blood will be purified and the toxins and waste products will be excreted in the urine. But when the kidneys are damaged, then this physiological function will be destroyed. Having kidney disease can cause serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, anemia, fractures, high blood pressure and kidney failure. In fact, more than 26 million people in the United States have kidney disease, but most people do not know they have it. Kidney disease is often asymptomatic in its early stages, making it especially important to understand the risk factors for kidney disease. Surveys show that one in three people in the United States is at risk for kidney disease: diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney disease or kidney failure. Certain populations are at higher risk for kidney disease: those over 60 years of age, those with a family history of kidney failure, African Americans, Caucasians, Asians, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, etc. If you feel you are at higher risk for kidney disease, the NKF recommends two simple tests each year: a urine albumin creatinine ratio, which monitors albumin in the urine, an early sign of kidney damage; and blood monitoring of blood creatinine, which can help estimate glomerular rate filtration and can tell you how much filtration function is left when your kidneys are damaged. If these abnormalities are detected early, you will be able to take steps to slow down or even stop your kidneys from continuing to deteriorate. There are many ways to keep kidney disease at bay: control your blood pressure and blood sugar, maintain a proper weight, stop smoking, exercise regularly, avoid painkillers, keep salt and fat low, and drink the right amount of water.