If someone in your family has kidney disease, this message is for you.

When one person is diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, the entire family’s attention naturally turns toward that patient.

But there’s something we often forget.

The rest of the family may also be at risk.

Many kidney diseases have a genetic component. Even when they don’t, families often share the same lifestyle, eating habits, diabetes, high blood pressure, and environmental factors—all of which increase the risk of kidney disease.

So if your father, mother, brother, sister, or child has kidney disease, don’t assume you’re safe just because you feel well.

Kidney disease is often silent.

By the time symptoms appear, a significant amount of kidney function may already be lost.

The good news?

Finding kidney disease early can make an enormous difference.

Simple yearly kidney checks

A simple yearly health check is usually all it takes.

• Check your blood pressure.
• Have a blood test for creatinine and eGFR.
• Do a urine test to look for protein.
• Check your blood sugar.

And if kidney disease runs strongly in your family—especially conditions like polycystic kidney disease—your doctor may also recommend an ultrasound.

These are simple tests.

But they can protect your kidneys for decades.

Remember

Remember…

If kidney disease runs in your family, don’t wait for symptoms.

Get checked.

Encourage your brothers and sisters to get checked.

Encourage your children to get checked when appropriate.

Protecting one kidney patient is important.

Protecting an entire family is even better.

Because the best treatment for kidney disease…

is finding it before it ever has a chance to harm you.