It’s the second Thursday of March which means it’s time for World Kidney Day. What may seem like an odd topic to celebrate is actually an important reminder to include our kidneys in our health journey. According to the team behind the global campaign, “World Kidney Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.” (WorldKidneyDay.org)

What is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?

The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF) explain that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive loss in kidney function over a period of months or years.

According to their article What is Chronic Kidney Disease? ISN and IFKF explain that “each of your kidneys has about a million tiny filters, called nephrons. If nephrons are damaged, they stop working. For a while, healthy nephrons can take on the extra work. But if the damage continues, more and more nephrons shut down. After a certain point, the nephrons that are left cannot filter your blood well enough to keep you healthy.”

The group notes that “when kidney function falls below a certain point, it is called kidney failure. Kidney failure affects your whole body and can make you feel very ill. Untreated kidney failure can be life-threatening.” (WorldKidneyDay.org)

What Can You Do to Prevent CKD?

Staying educated and altering your health journey to accommodate kidney-friendly practices along with regular checkups are a great way to stay on top of your kidney health. Check out our article It’s World Kidney Day – Here are 8 Rules to Reduce the Risk of Developing Kidney Disease to learn more!