The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology released updated guidelines for diagnosing and treating high blood pressure, also called hypertension, in late 2017. These most recent guidelines recommend that blood pressure should be treated when it is higher than 130/80, rather than the previous 140/90. Under these guidelines, it’s estimated that half of the U.S. population has high blood pressure.

High blood pressure, often referred to as the “silent killer,” often has no warning signs or symptoms.

Have you ever stopped to think about how important your kidneys are to long-term health? Kidneys are vital organs that usually fly under the radar when we think about a healthy lifestyle. Many key functions in our body depend upon our kidneys including:

• Removing waste and extra fluid as urine
• Balancing electrolytes, like sodium and potassium
• Producing red blood cells
• Regulating blood pressure
• Controlling pH balance
• Making an active form of Vitamin D to support bone health

Nearly 1 in 7 Americans have chronic kidney disease (CKD),