March is National Kidney Month and the National Kidney Foundation is urging all Americans to give their kidneys a second thought and a well-deserved checkup.

Kidneys filter 200 liters of blood a day, help regulate blood pressure and direct red blood cell production. But they are also prone to disease; 1 in 3 Americans is at risk for kidney disease due to diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease. There are more than 26 million Americans who already have kidney disease, and most don't know it because there are often no symptoms until the disease has progressed.

During National Kidney Month in March, and in honor of World Kidney Day on March 14, the National Kidney Foundation offers the following health activities to promote awareness of kidneys, risk factors and kidney disease:

• Free Screenings:  On World Kidney Day and throughout the Month of March, NKF is offering free screenings to those most at risk for kidney disease – anyone with diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease. Locations and information can be found at: www.kidney.org.
• 'Are You at Risk' Kidney Quiz:  Early detection can make a difference in preventing kidney disease so it's important to know if you're at risk. Take the online kidney quiz, and find out if you're at risk at www.kidney.org.
• Live Twitter Chat with Dr. Joseph Vassalotti: The National Kidney Foundation's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joseph Vassalotti, will be hosting an interactive kidney Q&A on World Kidney Day, Thursday, March 14, from 12-2 pm ET.  Ask your questions at www.twitter.com/nkf
• Ask the Dietitian: Dietitian Melissa Altman-Traub, MS, RD, CSR, LDN, will be answering questions all month about diet and what to eat to keep your kidneys healthy. Visit http://nkfdietitian.wordpress.com/ and ask your questions today.

About The Kidneys: The kidneys are two, fist-sized organs in your lower back. They maintain overall health through the following functions:

• Filtering waste out of 200 liters of blood each day.
• Regulating of the body's salt, potassium and acid content.
• Removing of drugs from the body.
• Balancing the body's fluids.
• Releasing hormones that regulate blood pressure.
• Producing an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones.
• Controlling the production of red blood cells.

Quick Facts on Kidney Disease:

• Kidney disease is the 9^th leading cause of death in the country.
• African Americans are three times more likely to have kidney failure than whites.
• More than 26 million Americans have kidney disease, and most don't know it.
• There are over 95,000 people waiting for kidney transplants.
• More than 590,000 people have kidney failure in the U.S. today.

The National Kidney Foundation is the leading organization in the U.S. dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease for hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals, millions of patients and their families and tens of millions of Americans at risk.  For more information about risk factors, kidneys and kidney disease, visit www.kidney.org.

SOURCE National Kidney Foundation

CONTACT: Ellie Schlam, Ellies@kidney.org, +1-917-658-5855

Web Site: http://www.kidney.org

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