Kidney disease

Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist, located just below the rib cage, one on each side of your spine. Their main job is to filter your blood, remove waste products and excess water to make urine.

This process helps to maintain a healthy balance of water, salt, and minerals in your body. Kidneys also produce hormones that help control blood pressure, make red blood cells, and keep your bones strong.

How to keep your kidneys healthy

Keeping your kidneys healthy is crucial for overall well-being. Simple steps include maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing blood pressure and blood sugar levels, staying hydrated, and avoiding excessive use of over-the-counter pain medications. Regular check-ups, especially if you have risk factors for kidney disease, can also help in early detection and management. For more tips on kidney health, watch this short video. 

Tests to check kidney function

Various tests can be performed to check how well your kidneys are functioning. These often include blood tests to measure levels of waste products like creatinine and urea, and urine tests to check for protein or blood in the urine. These tests help healthcare professionals diagnose kidney problems early and monitor the progression of kidney disease. For more information on tests to check kidney function, watch our tests to check kidney function video. 

What is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)? 

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a long-term condition where the kidneys don’t work as well as they should. This means they are less able to filter waste products from your blood, which can build up in your body and cause health problems. CKD often progresses slowly over many years and may not show symptoms in its early stages. For more detailed information on chronic kidney disease, watch our what is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) video. 

What is my risk of kidney failure with CKD? 

The risk of kidney failure with CKD varies depending on the stage of the disease, underlying causes, and how well other health conditions are managed. Factors such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain genetic conditions can increase the risk of progression to kidney failure, which would then require dialysis or a kidney transplant. For more information on your risk of kidney failure with CKD, watch our what is my risk of kidney failure with CKD (chronic kidney disease) video. 

Conditions related to kidney disease: 

Patient information leaflets

Treatments related to kidney disease:  

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