Kidney Disease
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Your kidneys clean your blood by working as a filter to remove water and wastes from your body. Kidney disease damages these filters so they don’t do their job properly.
Kidney disease usually affects both kidneys and may also damage other parts of your body, such as your heart.
When enough of the filters are damaged, the body will fill up with excess wastes and water. This is called kidney failure. It can happen when you have kidney disease for a long period of time (chronic kidney disease).
Kidney failure is fatal if not treated by either dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Am I at risk?
You’re at greater risk of kidney disease if you:
- have high blood pressure
- have diabetes
- smoke
- have a family history of kidney disease
- are over 50
- are of Māori or Pacific heritage.
- If you’re in any of these groups, do yourself a favour – ask your doctor for a kidney check-up.
Reference: Ministry of Health (MOH) - 2015