Missing your annual well visit

The two main causes of end-stage kidney disease are high blood pressure [and] diabetes,” says Dr. Uribarri. If you skip your annual physical, you likely won’t know if you are at risk for either of these conditions. “Fully 60 percent of people who are on dialysis [for their kidneys] are on it due to diabetes and hypertension.” Dialysis does your kidneys’ job by filtering your blood—either through a machine (hemodialysis) or through the infusion of fluids inside your gut (peritoneal dialysis).