Awareness and Education
"Knowledge is health"
What do kidneys do?
- Clean your blood
- Regulate water levels
- Regulate blood chemistry
- Keep you healthy!
What is kidney disease?
- When kidneys are not able to clean your blood
- Results in build up of water and toxins
- Usually asymptomatic until very advanced
- Fatigue, swelling, breathing problems & loss of appetite are some symptoms when advanced
Who can get kidney disease?
- Anyone!
- People with DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE or HEART DISEASE are at highest risk, especially if these are not well controlled
- People of INDIGENOUS, BLACK or ASIAN ETHNICITIES, or who were born in AFRICAN or CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES are at higher risk
How do you lower your risk for kidney disease?
- KNOW and CONTROL your BLOOD SUGARS and BLOOD PRESSURE
- LIVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE – Don’t smoke, maintain a healthy weight, reduce sodium intake, and eat a balanced diet
Why do people of African Caribbean descent have more kidney disease?
- Biological factors
- Genetic factors
- Other factors
- Socioeconomic factors
- Lower income
- Other factors