Title: African Americans and Kidney Disease | National Kidney Foundation
Headings: African Americans and Kidney Disease
African Americans and Kidney Disease
What is kidney disease?
Change the Face of Kidney Disease
Can anyone get kidney disease?
Why are African Americans at greater risk for kidney disease?
How does access to healthcare play a role?
What to do?

Content: African Americans and Kidney Disease | National Kidney Foundation
African Americans and Kidney Disease
African Americans have a higher rate of kidney failure than any other group of people. In fact, African Americans are three to four times more likely to have kidney failure than white Americans. It is not fully understood why African Americans are at a higher risk. However, diabetes, high blood pressure, family background, and access to healthcare play major roles. Being overweight is also a factor because it contributes to a higher rate of diabetes in African-Americans. What is kidney disease? Healthy kidneys do many important jobs. They remove waste products and extra water from your body, help make red blood cells, and help control blood pressure. When you have kidney disease, it means your kidneys are damaged and they cannot do these important jobs well enough. Kidneys can become damaged from a physical injury or a disease like diabetes, high blood pressure, or other disorders.