Kidney disease is a chronic illness that develops slowly, and a lot of the "common knowledge" about it is simply wrong. Dr. Mohammed Azmir, MD, nephrologist at Live Well Medical Care, debunks five myths patients bring up most often.
Myth 1: You can't prevent kidney disease
Fact: Family history raises your risk, but it isn't destiny. A healthy lifestyle genuinely protects your kidneys: keep your blood pressure in range, limit salty food and alcohol, and exercise regularly. The same habits protect your heart.
Myth 2: Urinating frequently means your kidneys are healthy
Fact: It's often the opposite. Healthy kidneys produce concentrated urine that carries waste out efficiently. When kidneys lose that ability, they can produce more urine while waste stays in your body. If your frequency has increased noticeably, get checked — diabetes and hormonal imbalances commonly drive this.
Myth 3: You would know if you had kidney disease
Fact: Kidney disorders usually cause no pain and no clear symptoms in the early stages. By the time signs appear — blood in the urine, poor sleep, persistent fatigue — the disease has often advanced. Routine screening is the only reliable way to catch it early.
Myth 4: Kidney disease only affects older people
Fact: While risk rises with age, anyone with diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity or a family history can develop kidney disease — including younger adults. Early screening matters at every age when risk factors are present.
Myth 5: If you have kidney disease, dialysis is inevitable
Fact: Caught early, CKD can often be slowed dramatically with blood pressure control, blood sugar management, diet changes and the right medications. Many patients managed from early stages never need dialysis.
Get the facts about your kidneys
A simple blood and urine test tells us how your kidneys are doing. Dr. Azmir provides kidney screenings as part of routine primary care at 123 Church Ave, Brooklyn — in English, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu or Arabic. Call (718) 975-8702 or book online.