--- title: What you need to know about your kidneys description: Every day, 56 Australians die with kidney-related disease. “The kidneys are vital organs—just like the heart, brain or lung—if they shut down, your body shuts down” said Anne Wilson, CEO Kidney Health Australia. It’s crucial to get our kidneys checked every 12 months but the... image: https://blog.global-health.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/logo_dark-1-Jul-19-2021-05-55-18-78-AM.png --- [![Global Health](https://blog.global-health.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/GlobalHealth_March_2021/images/GlobalHealth-Horizontal-Logorev.png?width=826&height=548&name=GlobalHealth-Horizontal-Logorev.png "Global Health")](https://www.global-health.com/) [![Global Health](https://blog.global-health.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/GlobalHealth_March_2021/images/logo_dark-1.png?width=460&height=548&name=logo_dark-1.png "Global Health")](https://www.global-health.com/) Menu - [Home](https://www.global-health.com/) - [Our Approach](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/) - [Our Approach](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/) - - [Company Overview](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/company-overview/) - [History](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/history/) - - [Mission](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/mission/) - [Governance](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/governance/) - - [Leadership](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/leadership/) - [Careers](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/careers-at-global-health/) - [Our Solutions](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/) - [Our Solutions](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/) - - [Mental Health](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/mental-health-software/) - [Allied Health](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/allied-health/) - [Community Health](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/community-health/) - - [Consumers Engagement](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/consumer/) - [General Practitioners](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/gps/) - [Specialists](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/specialists/) - - [Aged and Homecare](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/aged-and-homecare/) - [Pharmacists](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/pharmacists/) - [Hospitals](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/hospitals/) - [Our Brands](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/) - [Our Brands](https://www.global-health.com/our-brands/) - - - - - - - - - - [Investor Centre](https://www.global-health.com/investor-centre/) - [Investor Centre](https://www.global-health.com/investor-centre/) - - [Financial Reports](https://blog.global-health.com/investor-centre/asx-announcements/tag/annual-and-half-year-reports) - - [ASX Announcements](https://blog.global-health.com/investor-centre/asx-announcements) - - [Investor Presentations](https://www.global-health.com/investor-presentations) - [Media Centre](https://www.global-health.com/media-centre/) - [Media Centre](https://www.global-health.com/media-centre/) - - [Testimonials](https://www.global-health.com/media-centre/testimonials/) - - [Case Studies](https://www.global-health.com/media-centre/case-studies/) - - [News](https://blog.global-health.com/news) - [Videos](https://www.global-health.com/media-centre/videos/) - [Contact us](https://www.global-health.com/contact-us/) Menu - [Home](https://www.global-health.com/) - [Our Approach](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/) - [Our Approach](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/) - - [Company Overview](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/company-overview/) - [History](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/history/) - - [Mission](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/mission/) - [Governance](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/governance/) - - [Leadership](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/leadership/) - [Careers](https://www.global-health.com/our-approach/careers-at-global-health/) - [Our Solutions](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/) - [Our Solutions](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/) - - [Mental Health](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/mental-health-software/) - [Allied Health](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/allied-health/) - [Community Health](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/community-health/) - - [Consumers Engagement](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/consumer/) - [General Practitioners](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/gps/) - [Specialists](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/specialists/) - - [Aged and Homecare](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/aged-and-homecare/) - [Pharmacists](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/pharmacists/) - [Hospitals](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/hospitals/) - [Our Brands](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/) - [Our Brands](https://www.global-health.com/our-brands/) - - - - - - - - - - [Investor Centre](https://www.global-health.com/investor-centre/) - [Investor Centre](https://www.global-health.com/investor-centre/) - - [Financial Reports](https://blog.global-health.com/investor-centre/asx-announcements/tag/annual-and-half-year-reports) - - [ASX Announcements](https://blog.global-health.com/investor-centre/asx-announcements) - - [Investor Presentations](https://www.global-health.com/investor-presentations) - [Media Centre](https://www.global-health.com/media-centre/) - [Media Centre](https://www.global-health.com/media-centre/) - - [Testimonials](https://www.global-health.com/media-centre/testimonials/) - - [Case Studies](https://www.global-health.com/media-centre/case-studies/) - - [News](https://blog.global-health.com/news) - [Videos](https://www.global-health.com/media-centre/videos/) - [Contact us](https://www.global-health.com/contact-us/) ![](https://blog.global-health.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/logo_dark-1-Jul-19-2021-05-55-18-78-AM.png) # 28 May What you need to know about your kidneys POSTED AT 00:00 IN [News](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/news) Share - - - - #### Every day, 56 Australians die from kidney-related diseases. “The kidneys are vital organs*—*just like the heart, brain or lung*—*if they shut down, your body shuts down,” said Anne Wilson, CEO of [Kidney Health Australia](http://www.kidney.org.au/newsevents/kidneyhealthweek/tabid/648/default.aspx).   It’s crucial to get our kidneys checked every 12 months but the general population is unaware of the critical role they play in our overall health. Every year, [Kidney Health Australia](http://www.kidney.org.au/newsevents/kidneyhealthweek/tabid/648/default.aspx) organises a national awareness week urging all Australians to meet their kidneys! This Kidney health week, 24 – 30 May, focuses on introducing Australians to their kidneys. **Kidney health week 2015** In 2015, the awareness week focuses on introducing Australians to their kidneys and educating them about the role they play including their vital function of regulating blood pressure. A range of activities are planned and will be announced on Kidney Health Australia’s social media channels.  [Kidney Health Australia encourages](http://www.kidney.org.au/newsevents/kidneyhealthweek/tabid/648/default.aspx) each of us to spread the word, share our story and organise fundraising events. You can download promotional material here: [promotion pack](http://www.kidney.org.au/newsevents/kidneyhealthweek/tabid/648/default.aspx). **Kidney disease symptoms and risk factors** 1 in 3 Australians is at risk of kidney disease. Undetected, untreated kidney disease is a silent killer. There are no warning signs; we can lose up to 90% of our kidney function before we feel any symptoms. The symptoms of reduced kidney function may include: - high blood pressure - changes in the amount and number of times urine is passed, e.g. at night - changes in the appearance of urine - blood in the urine - puffiness e.g. legs and ankles - pain in the kidney area - tiredness - loss of appetite - difficulty sleeping - headaches - lack of concentration - itching - shortness of breath - nausea and vomiting - bad breath and a metallic taste in the mouth You are at increased risk of chronic kidney disease if you: - have diabetes - have high blood pressure - have established heart problems (heart failure or heart attack) and/or have had a stroke - have a family history of kidney disease - are obese  are a smoker - are 60 years or older - are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin Tags: [News](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/news) [Annual and Half Year Reports](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/annual-and-half-year-reports) [Financial Report](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/financial-report) [Investor](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/investor) [Operational Review](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/operational-review) [Investor Presentations](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/investor-presentations) [Consumer Empowerment](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/consumer-empowerment) [PrimaryClinic Medical](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/primaryclinic-medical) [MasterCare EMR](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/mastercare-emr) [Diabetes Victoria](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/diabetes-victoria) [Patient Engagement](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/patient-engagement) ##### About the corporation Global Health is an Australian public-listed company (ASX: GLH) with a comprehensive portfolio of healthcare software applications directed at “Connecting Clinicians and Consumers”. Our digital health technology solutions are strongly focussed on patient engagement and connectivity across the sector. ### Our latest blog news ### Categories - [Annual and Half Year Reports (8)](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/annual-and-half-year-reports) - [Consumer Empowerment (3)](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/consumer-empowerment) - [Diabetes Victoria (1)](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/diabetes-victoria) - [Financial Report (8)](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/financial-report) - [Investor (8)](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/investor) - [Investor Presentations (7)](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/investor-presentations) - [MasterCare EMR (2)](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/mastercare-emr) - [News (92)](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/news) - [Operational Review (8)](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/operational-review) - [Patient Engagement (1)](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/patient-engagement) - [PrimaryClinic Medical (3)](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/primaryclinic-medical) see all topics ### Tags [News](https://blog.global-health.com/news/tag/news) ##### About company Global Health is an Australian public-listed company (ASX: GLH) with a comprehensive portfolio of healthcare software applications directed at “Connecting Clinicians and Consumers”. Our digital health technology solutions are strongly focussed on patient engagement and connectivity across the sector. ##### Contact Melbourne Head Office Level 2, 696 Bourke Street Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia [enquiries@global-health.com](mailto:enquiries@global-health.com) P: [+61 3 9675 0600](tel:+61%203%209675%200600) F: [+61 3 9675 0699](tel:+61%203%209675%200699)   - Our Solutions - [Aged and Homecare](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/aged-and-homecare/) - [Allied Health](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/allied-health/) - [Community Health](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/community-health/) - [Consumers](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/consumer/) - [General Practitioners](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/gps/) - [Mental Health](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/mental-health-software/) - [Pharmacists](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/pharmacists/) - [Specialists](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/specialists/) - [Hospitals](https://www.global-health.com/our-solutions/hospitals/) © 2021 Global Health Limited ABN 75 091 377 892  [Terms and Conditions](https://www.global-health.com/terms-and-conditions/) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.global-health.com/privacy-policy/)