Important Sign May Be No Sign at All
One of the biggest misconceptions about kidney disease is that it always causes obvious symptoms.
Early chronic kidney disease often produces **no noticeable symptoms**.
This is why screening can be important for people with risk factors.
## Who Is More Likely to Develop Kidney Disease?
Risk is higher in people with:
* diabetes
* high blood pressure
* cardiovascular disease
* a family history of kidney disease
* previous kidney problems
* older age
Certain medications and other chronic illnesses may also affect kidney health.
## How Doctors Check Kidney Function
Kidney disease cannot be reliably diagnosed from symptoms alone.
Healthcare professionals commonly use:
### Blood Tests
Creatinine levels are used to estimate how effectively the kidneys filter the blood, often reported as **eGFR**.
### Urine Tests
Urine testing can detect albumin or other proteins that may indicate kidney damage.
One abnormal result does not always mean chronic kidney disease. Tests may
