There’s a reason why every doctor’s visit, no matter what it’s for, involves having a cuff wrapped around your upper arm and pumped until a nurse or medical assistant stops and says some numbers. Ideally, those numbers are 120 over 80, or slightly lower.
What you may not hear is what those numbers actually mean and why they’re so important.
It can be easy to miss the signs when our kidneys aren’t functioning properly, but since they are so important to our overall health, it’s important to be aware of them. This is critical if you fall into any at-risk groups, including those with diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 11 percent of Nevadans have been diagnosed with diabetes, up from 5 percent in 1995. And there’s a good chance that number should be even higher, as many people have just not been diagnosed.
“A lot of people don’t like to go to the doctor because they’re afraid of finding out what’s wrong with them,” says Dr.
Though our kidneys are small (roughly the size of a fist), they are mighty.
“Kidney health is critical to overall health,” shares Dr. Jusmin Patel, of Sierra Nevada Nephrology Consultants (SNCC). “Our kidneys are powerful chemical factories that keep our bodies functioning properly.”
Our kidneys are working 24/7, providing the vital life-sustaining task of filtering our blood.