Supporting Professionals Who Care
Facts About Your Kidneys
There are currently 3 million people in the UK with chronic kidney disease and it is the 10th biggest cause of death in the world.
The average wait for a kidney transplant is 3 years and most people spend approximately 12 hours a week on dialysis.
Most people have two kidneys which are about 10-15cm long, located either side of the spine. Their main job is to clean your blood of toxins and transform this into urine, which you then expel from your body.
WHAT DO YOU KIDNEYS DO?
- Regulate blood pressure
- Produce red blood cells
- Activate vitamin D for healthy bones
- Regulate fluid levels
- Remove waste products from the body
- Filter 200 litres of fluid every day
RISK FACTORS FOR KIDNEY DISEASE
High Blood Pressure
Diabetes
Family History
Age of 60
SOME SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY DISEASE
- Weight loss and poor appetite
- Insomnia
- Shortness of breath
- Blood in your urine
- Tiredness
- Swollen ankles, feet and hands
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS OF KIDNEY DISEASE
Nerve Damage
Cardiovascular Disease
Heart Attack
Weak Bones
High Blood Pressure
Kidney Failure
Low Blood Count
Stroke
All information is sourced from the NHS, National Kidney Foundation and World Kidney Day
