You re not alone.
Most people take their kidneys for granted.
Yet more than a quarter of a million people in this country need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive. In addition, more than 50,000 people die from kidney failure each year. Kidney failure can be caused by many factors, but the most common causes are some of our country s most prevalent health problems. In the early stages of kidney failure you may not even feel sick, or you may have vague symptoms such as fatigue or nausea. As kidney function deteriorates, you may experience weight loss, decreased urine output, high blood pressure, swelling of the feet and hands, muscle twitches or cramps, difficulty concentrating or a yellowish-brown skin tone.