Icon - Important jobs your kidneys do

Important jobs your kidneys do

Living, breathing and moving all make waste in your blood. Healthy kidneys filter the waste and help keep you healthy. Sick kidneys can’t filter the blood and that means you can get very ill.

There are no warning signs. Your kidneys can be almost totally damaged before you know it. You can keep your kidneys from getting sick if you act early.

Here are some of the big jobs that your kidneys do to keep your body healthy, and why it is not good to have kidney disease.

Kidneys filter rubbish from your body

Healthy kidneys are very good filters. They keep in the good things and get rid of the rubbish.

Sick kidneys are like a fishing net with holes in it. They can’t do their job of filtering the waste.

Kidneys keep good blood pressure

Healthy kidneys help keep your blood pressure at the correct level, and that means you feel good.

Sick kidneys cause high blood pressure, which damages your kidneys. You may feel ill and have headaches.

Kidneys maintain salt and water balance

Healthy kidneys keep the salt and water in your body in balance and that helps you feel good and allows your body to work better.

With sick kidneys, salt and water builds up and you may feel tired or unwell, your feet might be puffy, and you can feel sad or confused at times.

Kidneys keep your bones strong

Healthy kidneys help keep your bones strong, which means you can do almost anything and not be afraid of bones breaking.

Sick kidneys can’t keep bones strong, so your bones become weak and may break easily.

Kidneys help make strong blood

Healthy kidneys help make your blood strong, which makes you feel good and gives you lots of energy to work and enjoy life.

Sick kidneys can make your blood weak and that can make you feel very tired and sleepy.

To find out more about how to keep your kidneys healthy, please go to your doctor or health clinic.



1 - Unnamed

To share this information with your family and community, you can download this poster.


Indigenous resourcesKeep your kidneys stronger longer
Join our community to download
Join our Kidney Community