Facts to Know

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1. Urinary system disorders are widespread. According to the National Kidney Foundation, approximately 20 million Americans have kidney disease and 20 million more are at risk. Incontinence and overactive bladder is one of the most common health problems among women. More than 79,000 Americans died of end-stage renal disease in 2002.

2. Drinking plenty of water is key to urinary system health. When you don't drink enough water, your body responds by retaining water to maintain the proper concentration of nutrients such as potassium and sodium. A good rule of thumb is to drink enough water and other fluids (at least eight glasses a day) to keep the urine clear or straw colored.

3. Discuss any of the following symptoms with a health care professional, should they arise: painful urination; pain in the lower back or pelvic area; frequent or urgent need to urinate; urine leakage; urine that smells or looks unusual, contains blood or appears foamy; and frequent urinary tract infections.

4. Combining over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be toxic to your kidneys. Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen can also damage the kidneys. Ask your health care professional or pharmacist about adverse effects of any medications you are taking, including over-the-counter drugs.

5. Kidney stones are among the most painful and most common urinary tract disorders—about 10 percent of Americans will have a kidney stone at some point in their lives. Men are afflicted with kidney stones more often than women, and Caucasians are more susceptible than African-Americans. Stones are most likely to occur between the ages of 20 and 50 and are more likely to occur in people who have previously had stones.

6. Diabetes accounts for about a third of all cases of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Diabetic nephropathy is the term used for such damage, which can be delayed or prevented by keeping blood sugar levels down.

7. African Americans are at greater risk than Caucasians for high blood pressure and the resulting kidney problems. African-Americans age 25 to 44 are 20 times more likely than Caucasians to develop kidney failure related to hypertension. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in African Americans, accounting for 43 percent of cases. Hypertension is the second leading cause.

8. Health care professionals often use the term "renal function" when talking about the kidneys; if both kidneys are healthy, you have 100 percent renal function. If one becomes non-functional or is donated for a transplant operation, you will still be healthy, even with only 50 percent of renal function. However, if function slips below 20 percent, serious health problems arise, and levels below 10 to 15 percent necessitate dialysis or transplantation.

9. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) refers to a condition of permanent total or nearly total kidney failure, requiring dialysis or transplantation. If untreated, ESRD can cause seizures, coma and death. In the United States, more than 79,000 Americans died of ESRD in 2002.

10. Dialysis survival in the United States is 77 percent after one year, 28 percent after five years, and 10 percent after 10 years. Transplant is more effective than dialysis, with a one-year survival rate of 95 percent and 90 percent at three years.