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Who Should Have a Kidney Disease Risk Assessment?
Getting a risk assessment is essential if you want to prevent kidney disease or get treatment early enough to slow progressive kidney damage. Why?
Because you can’t depend on symptoms to warn you about the developing problem. Symptoms don’t appear until you have advanced kidney damage.
After our kidney health expert, Deon Middlebrook, MD, completes your screening, he works with you to create a plan to support your health based on your risks.
We encourage you to schedule a kidney disease risk assessment if you meet any of the criteria in this list:
1. Increasing age
You’re more likely to develop kidney disease as you age. The National Kidney Foundation recommends kidney screening for everyone over 60. However, you should also consider all the criteria in this list.
The more of these criteria you meet, the higher your risk. That means you should schedule a screening regardless of age, even if you think you’re too young to worry about kidney problems.
2. Diabetes
Diabetes is the top cause of kidney disease. High blood sugar gradually damages the tiny blood vessels inside each kidney, limiting their ability to work and leading to kidney disease.
Type 2 diabetes is preventable if you follow a balanced diet, avoid sugar, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise regularly. Avoiding type 2 diabetes significantly lowers your risk of kidney disease.
3. High blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) is the next most common cause. Hypertension and diabetes together cause two out of three cases of kidney disease.
Hypertension narrows the blood vessels in your kidneys, restricting blood flow and causing kidney damage.
4. African American
African Americans have a dramatically higher risk of kidney disease compared to White people. After kidney disease develops, they're also more likely to progress to kidney failure.
There are several possible reasons for this disparity, but two stand out. Black adults have higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure.
5. Cardiovascular disease
If you have clogged arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) or legs (peripheral artery disease), there’s a good chance you have a similar problem in the kidneys.
Blood flow decreases as cholesterol builds up in the kidneys’ arteries. The gradual loss of blood causes irreversible damage.
6. Obesity
Being overweight or obese forces your kidneys to work harder, leading to kidney damage and accelerating the progression of kidney disease after it develops. You also have a much higher risk of having or developing diabetes and high blood pressure if you’re overweight.
7. Certain medications
You should consider a kidney health screening if you regularly or frequently take medications that can damage your kidneys, including:
- Antibiotics
- Statins
- Insulin
- Antacids
- Antifungal and antiviral medications
Over-the-counter pain medications (acetaminophen, naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin) can also harm your kidneys if you exceed the recommended dosage.
8. Family history of kidney disease
Genetics influence kidney health. Several kidney conditions are inherited. Additionally, genetic variations make you more likely to develop kidney disease in response to diabetes and hypertension.
The most common inherited condition is polycystic kidney disease. If you have a parent, sibling, or child with the condition, you should schedule a kidney health risk assessment.
9. Smoking
Smoking harms your kidneys and causes chronic disease by damaging blood vessels, restricting blood flow, causing high blood pressure, and contributing to atherosclerosis.
10. Anemia
Anemia is a red flag because it commonly occurs in people with kidney disease. When your kidneys are damaged, they can’t produce the hormone needed to produce red blood cells. Fewer red blood cells deprive your body of oxygen, which causes anemia.
Don’t wait to schedule a full assessment if you have symptoms of anemia (fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and body aches). Anemia caused by kidney disease gets worse as the disease progresses.
Schedule a kidney disease risk assessment
Call Deon D. Middlebrook MDPC today or request an appointment online if you have questions about kidney disease or want to schedule a risk assessment.