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viablackamericaweb:
It’s National Kidney Month – here’s what you should know about how to keep your kidneys healthy.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN CAUSES OF KIDNEY DISEASE, AND WHY SHOULD AFRICAN AMERICANS BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT?
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the main causes of kidney disease, and your chances of having diabetes and high blood pressure depend on a combination of factors, including your genes and lifestyle. Rates of diabetes, high blood pressure tend to be higher in the African-American community. For this reason, African-Americans have a greater chance of developing kidney disease.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY DISEASE?
Early-stage kidney disease usually has no symptoms. Many people don’t know they have kidney disease until just before their kidneys fail. If your kidneys fail, you’ll have to either go on dialysis or get a kidney transplant.
As kidney disease gets worse, you may have a range of problems including leg swelling, itchy or dry skin, anemia, bone disease, and heart disease. Other symptoms can be found on NIDDK’s kidney disease health information pages.
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