WHY SHOULD I CARE

Anyone anytime can be struck by kidney disease.

Over 3 million people face chronic kidney disease in the UK today; and this number is expected to rise over the next ten years. Meanwhile, an estimated 13,000 people are killed by the disease annually in this country.

Yet, the British public awareness is low and most people know very little about what their kidneys are and what happens when they start to fail.

WHAT IS WORLD KIDNEY DAY?

The purpose of World Kidney Day is to raise awareness about the importance of our kidneys - an amazing organ that plays a crucial role in keeping us alive and well - and to spread the message that kidney disease is common, harmful and treatable.

The third international World Kidney Day takes place 13th March 2008.

World Kidney Day is a joint initiative organised by the members of International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations.

In the UK, it is represented by the members of the Kidney Alliance.

EARLY DETECTION CAN SAVE LIVES

Kidney disease is often ‘silent’, causing few symptoms, especially in the early stages. If left unchecked the disease can progress or lead to kidney failure. It can severely impact on quality of life and ultimately can cost lives. Very often it comes along with other health threatening conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

If kidney disease is detected early, appropriate treatment can delay or even stop chronic kidney disease. It is easy to detect early signs of kidney problems by using simple tests performed by your GP.