What do healthy kidneys do

Your kidneys are important to your body. Here are some of the things they do for you.

Kidneys...

• Clean your blood by taking out waste and extra water.
• Help you maintain your mineral levels such as sodium and potassium.
• Help control blood pressure and red blood cell count.
• Control your calcium and phosphate levels and keep your bones healthy.

When do kidneys fail

• The estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) is a measure that is used to check how well the kidneys are removing waste from the blood.
• Healthy people with normal kidneys have an eGFR higher than 90, although it may be lower in the elderly.
• When eGFR is below 15, the kidneys begin to fail. This is called Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease or Kidney Failure.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) can be estimated from a blood test and is a measure of kidney function

What the symptoms of kidney failure are

You may have symptoms at later stages of Kidney Failure. Not everyone develops all symptoms but they become more likely over time.

Symptoms of Kidney Failure

There is no cure for Kidney Failure. There are treatments that may help extend life and control symptoms. However, treatments may not help everyone live longer or improve quality of life. This depends on age, other health conditions and how well people respond to treatment.