March is Kidney Health Month and the Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC & Yukon Branch wants everybody to be kidney smart by increasing their kidney health awareness.

鈥�1 in 10 people has kidney disease, a serious disease with no cure. In the early stages symptoms are often silent 鈥� so it鈥檚 important to know the risks,鈥� says Heather Johnson, Director of Programs at the Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC & Yukon Branch. 鈥淭he earlier someone knows they have compromised kidneys, the higher the chance of preventing or delaying the onset of kidney failure and the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant鈥�

Diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure are leading causes of kidney disease. Those with a family history of kidney disease or individuals from certain ethnic backgrounds, including Asian, South Asian, African, and Aboriginal are also at a greater risk for kidney disease.

While everybody should know their risk for kidney disease, this year special attention is being paid to 鈥渨omen and their kidney health鈥�, which is the theme for World Kidney Day, taking place on March 8, the same day as International Women鈥檚 Day.

鈥淲hen it comes to kidney health, kidney disease impacts women differently than men, and specifically, women of reproductive age face unique challenges,鈥� says Dr. Monica Beaulieu, a nephrologist with a focus on women鈥檚 kidney health.

鈥淲hile kidney disease can be a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes and can reduce a woman鈥檚 ability to get pregnant, many women living with kidney disease can also have safe and successful pregnancies. It really depends on a number of factors including her overall health and her level of kidney function. Women in the later stages of kidney disease may be at increased risk for complications to both mother and child.鈥�