Kidney Conscious

By Mark Loehrke
Appears in the March 2025 issue.

Focusing on renal health during National Kidney Month

With the glut of awareness months and appreciation days filling the calendar, it may be worth asking if it’s really necessary to dedicate 31 days to a humble pair of fist-size, bean-shaped organs that don’t seem to do much to distinguish themselves.

But that’s exactly the point of setting aside March as National Kidney Month. After all, the underappreciated kidneys may not be the most headline-grabbing organs on the anatomical hit parade, but their vital functionality cannot be overstated.

The kidneys are hard workers

Considering their relatively small stature, the kidneys certainly pull their weight in terms of keeping a body going. Filtering all of the body’s blood up to 25 times a day, these small wonders make urine and remove waste and extra fluid. The kidneys also remove acid that is produced by the body’s cells and maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals—including sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium—in the blood. Without this balance, nerves, muscles, and other tissues in the body may not work normally. But wait, there’s more—the kidneys also make hormones that help to control blood pressure, make red blood cells, and keep bones strong and healthy.

That’s a pretty full agenda. And when your kidneys are struggling to do all of these jobs (see risk factors below), they have to work even harder to keep up—which can lead to failure.

Kidney health can be a matter of life and death

Nephrologist Hsien-Ta Fang with Endeavor Health Medical Group in Naperville says the biggest risk factors for developing kidney disease are those that promote diabetes and hypertension, including high salt/carbohydrate intake, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. Diabetes and hypertension are the primary causes of kidney failure and need for dialysis in the United Sates, even though in many cases these can be managed through healthier choices.

“Unfortunately, due to lifestyle and dietary factors, incidences of diabetes and hypertension continue to increase in the U.S., leading to kidney disease, coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease, and stroke, among other issues,” Fang says.

Kidney disease often doesn’t have any obvious symptoms, which is why a person can lose up to 60 percent of kidney function before noticing any problems. That’s why Fang recommends regular discussions with your medical provider about kidney health.

Show your kidneys some love

Beyond chatting with your doctor, Fang’s other recommendations for avoiding kidney issues largely mirror the advice of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, namely:

• Make healthy food choices, with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and less salt and added sugars.
• Get more physical activity, with a goal of 30 minutes or more on most days.
• Aim for a healthy weight.
• Get enough sleep, with a goal of seven to eight hours a night.
• Don’t smoke.
• Limit alcohol intake.

Illustration: iStock