A person sharing their experience with kidney disease, which they were diagnosed with after a year of ignoring symptoms. They are now on dialysis. They want to raise awareness about kidney disease and encourage others to take action.
**Statistics:**
* 1 in 7 adults have kidney disease, and 9 out of 10 don't know they have it.
**Causes and risk factors:**
* Hypertension (high blood pressure)
* Diabetes
* Unhealthy diet and lack of exercise, leading to being overweight
**Early signs of kidney disease:**
1. Changes in urine (more frequent, less frequent, changes in volume, color, or foaminess)
2. Feeling easily fatigued (physically or mentally)
3. Edema (swelling due to excess fluid)
4. Changes in skin (dry, itchy, pale, or yellowing)
5. Metallic taste in mouth or bad breath
6. Unexplained weight loss
**Tests to check for kidney disease:**
* Blood pressure check
* Urine test for protein
* Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)
* Complete blood count (CBC)
* Kidney function test (available at Quest Diagnostics)
**Importance of being proactive:**
* Know your body and take action if something changes or feels wrong.
* Don't put off talking to a doctor or getting tests done.
* Kidney disease can be prevented or stopped with early detection and action.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. One in seven adults has kidney disease.
2. Nine out of ten people with kidney disease are unaware they have it.
3. High blood pressure can cause kidney disease and kidney disease can cause high blood pressure.
4. Diabetes can damage the kidneys and often causes high blood pressure.
5. A healthy diet, exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent kidney disease.
6. Kidney disease can cause changes in urine, such as frequency, volume, or color.
7. Foamy urine can be a sign of kidney disease, indicating protein leakage.
8. Fatigue, both physical and mental, can be a sign of kidney disease.
9. Edema (extra fluid in the body) can be a sign of kidney disease, particularly around the ankles, feet, fingers, and eyes.
10. Changes in skin, such as dryness, itchiness, or discoloration, can be a sign of kidney disease.
11. Metallic taste in the mouth or bad breath can be a sign of kidney disease.
12. Unexplained weight loss can be a sign of kidney disease.
13. Nausea and decreased interest in food can be signs of kidney disease.
14. Blood pressure tests can help check for kidney disease.
15. Tests for protein in urine, comprehensive metabolic panel, and complete blood count can help diagnose kidney disease.
16. Quest Diagnostics offers a kidney function test for around $100.
17. A complete metabolic panel test costs around $45.
18. A complete blood count test costs around $35.
19. Urine test strips can be purchased online for around $10 to check for protein in urine.