Next time you go in for a physical, make sure to be prepared to speak up on behalf of your kidney health.
Kidney Checklist for Your Annual Physical
What to Share with the Doctor:
- Lifestyle — Discuss your lifestyle. Controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, maintaining proper weight, stopping smoking, exercising regularly, and avoiding excessive use of medications that can harm the kidneys can reduce kidney disease risk.
- Health history — Be sure to mention if you have a family history of kidney failure.
What Questions to Ask:
- Request a simple urine test — If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, have a family history of kidney failure or are over age 60, ask for a simple urine test to screen for albuminuria (protein in your urine), one of the earliest signs of kidney disease.
- Obtain a copy of your most recent blood test results. Review your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose. Make sure you’ve had an eGFR calculated. If not, ask.
- Ask questions about healthy lifestyle recommendations. Does your healthcare provider have specific suggestions or goals for you?
- Find out if you’re taking any medications that could be harming your kidneys.
How To Interpret Results:
Albumin-to-Creatinine (A:C) Ratio
The A:C ratio estimates the amount of protein in your urine. Excessive protein in urine is one of the earliest signs of kidney disease. In a single urine specimen, less than 30 mg of albumin per gram of creatinine is normal, more than 30 mg is high, and 30-300 mg is very high.
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)
The eGFR measures kidney function by telling you how well your kidneys are filtering the blood. The goal is for this number to be higher than 60. Less than 60 indicates kidney disease.
Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a leading cause of kidney disease. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or higher. Prehypertension (120-139/80-89 mmHg) can also damage the kidneys, so take this condition seriously.
Blood Glucose (Sugar) Check
This test checks for diabetes, the leading cause of kidney failure. A high blood sugar level can cause kidney problems. If fasting, over 125 mg/dL indicates diabetes. After eating, over 200 mg/dL indicates diabetes.
Cholesterol
If your total cholesterol is over 200mg/dL, you may be at risk for cardiovascular (heart) disease, a major risk factor for kidney disease.
Courtesy of the National Kidney Foundation. For more information visit www.kidney.org.
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