How Well Do You Know Your Kidneys?

o What's the main job of your kidneys? o Get rid of waste o Keep you hydrated o Control your temperature

o Your kidneys have a lot of work to do. They remove waste and extra fluids from your body. They also keep your levels of salt and potassium in check. And they make hormones that help with blood pressure and making red blood cells.

Each of your kidneys is about the size of: o A kidney bean o A fist o A football

o Your two kidneys are shaped like beans, and each is about the size of your fist. They're located at the bottom of the rib cage on either side of your spine.

o About how much blood do your kidneys filter every day? o1 gallon o 50 quarts o 200 quarts

o Your kidneys sift through enough blood to fill a large bathtub every day. After the body takes what it needs, the kidneys turn the waste and extra water into urine -- usually about 2 quarts' worth a day.

o You can live with one kidney. o True o False

oThousands of people donate kidneys each year and stay healthy afterward. In fact, it's the No. 1 most common organ donated in the world. You can give a kidney to a friend, family member, or even a stranger. oSome people are born with one kidney. If one is missing, damaged, or removed, your other one can grow larger to become nearly the size of two kidneys. That helps it do the job of both.

o Kidney stones are usually the size of a tennis ball. o True o False

oKidney stones form when there's too much of a certain substance (like calcium) in your urine. They can stay in your kidney or travel down the urinary tract, where you'd pee it out. oKidney stones are different shapes and sizes. As painful as they can be to pass, the stones can be as tiny as a grain of sand or as big as a pearl -- or rarely a golf ball. You may be more likely to get a kidney stone if other people in your family have had them.

o Which of these is a common cause of kidney disease? o Diabetes o High blood pressure o Both

oHigh blood pressure can hurt small blood vessels in the kidneys, making it harder for them to do their job. If you have diabetes, unused blood sugar can damage your kidneys. Taking some blood pressure drugs – specifically, ACE inhibitors or ARBs -- can help protect your kidneys from disease.

o Which of these could be a sign something may be wrong with your kidneys? o Constipation o Peeing a lot o A barky cough

oEarly on, people with kidney disease usually don't have symptoms. But as things get worse, a change in bathroom habits -- having to go more or less -- can be a sign you have a problem. You may also feel tired, have muscle cramps, lose your appetite, and have swollen hands or feet and dry, itchy skin.

o What do you need if your kidneys stop working? o A kidney transplant o Dialysis o Either one

oWhen your kidneys completely stop working, your body fills up with wastes, fluids, and toxins. You either need a new kidney, or to go on dialysis -- that’s when a machine acts as an artificial kidney, cleaning your blood. You may need dialysis daily or a few times a week.

o When you're dehydrated, your urine is usually: o Clear o Dark yellow o Pinkish

oNot drinking enough water and other fluids can lead to dehydration. That can damage your kidneys and even cause kidney stones. Take a look when you go to the bathroom: Is your urine clear to light yellow? It should be if you're drinking enough liquids.

o Which medicines are more likely to hurt your kidneys? o Antidepressants o Certain painkillers o Vitamins

oBecause it's your kidney's job to filter your blood, too much of anything in your bloodstream can be bad. Certain pain medicine -- like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen -- can damage your kidneys, especially if you take too much, too often. Don't take more than the recommended dose on the label. oDrink plenty of water. And talk to your doctor if you use the drugs more than once in a while.