National Kidney Month

More than 30 million American adults have chronic kidney disease, and millions more are at risk due to diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Chronic kidney disease is a gradual loss of kidney function. Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then flushed from the body in your urine. When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes can build up in your body. In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, you may have few signs or symptoms. The only way to find out for sure whether you have chronic kidney disease is through blood and urine tests. If untreated, chronic kidney disease can lead to nerve damage, weakened bones, cardiovascular disease and a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.