Did you know that more than 20 million Americans may have kidney disease, and many more are at risk and may not realize it?

The good news is that if a problem is detected early enough, it can usually be treated.

Anyone can develop kidney disease at any age. Risk factors for developing kidney disease include:Diabetes

• High blood pressure
• Heart and blood vessel disease
• A family history of kidney failure

Early kidney disease has no symptoms. Testing is the only way to know if your waste-filtering organs are having troubles. The sooner you are aware that you have kidney disease, the sooner you can get treatment to help delay or prevent kidney failure. Treating kidney disease may also prevent heart disease.

Be sure to ask your health-care provider at your next office visit whether you should have your kidneys tested for disease.