This year, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) started a new campaign, called Know Your Kidneys™, to raise kidney health awareness and encourage Americans to invest in and better understand their kidney health.*

Why is kidney health so important?

Since people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be asymptomatic for many years, it often goes undetected until its advanced stages. Many of the risks of CKD can be reduced if they’re detected early and addressed immediately. Early detection can not only help slow the progression of existing disease but may also help prevent its development altogether.

What does the campaign consist of?

In alignment with the federal government’s Advancing American Kidney Health initiative, the AKF Know Your Kidneys™ campaign urges people, particularly those at high risk, to learn the risks, symptoms of, and treatments for kidney disease, as well as to take preventive action.

The campaign provides a wide variety of educational content about kidney health and disease risk factors—both on their website and social media and through video content and a webinar. Included is important information on many topics, such as:

• kidney testing;
• kidney-friendly diets;
• related risks from diabetes; and
• related risks from high blood pressure.

As part of the campaign and in conjunction with National Kidney Month in March, free kidney health screenings were also offered in the U.S. in Baltimore; Nashville; Richmond, Virginia; and Washington, D.C.

A word from the American Kidney Fund

As AKF President and CEO LaVarne A. Burton said, “With 37 million Americans affected by chronic kidney disease and many millions more at risk, it’s urgent to keep kidney disease at the forefront of public awareness. Our Know Your Kidneys™ campaign is helping to overcome the lack of knowledge about how important the kidneys are to a person’s health and well-being, and how vital it is to prevent kidney disease or slow its progression.”

Take the American Kidney Fund’s kidney quiz to learn more about how to protect your kidneys and how you can participate in the AKF’s ongoing advocacy efforts.

*American Kidney Fund (2020, Mar. 2). “During Kidney Month, American Kidney Fund Urges Americans to ‘Know Your Kidneys’ with Free Health Screenings, Digital Education and Awareness Campaign.”