The National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii will be conducting free kidney health screenings for individuals at risk for kidney disease on Sept. 18 at Castle Wellness Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The screening is part of the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii's Kidney Early Detection Screening designed to identify and determine risk for Chronic Kidney Disease.

Individuals with, diabetes, high blood pressure or have an immediate family member with diabetes with these conditions or kidney disease, or are of Hawaiian, Asian or Pacific Islander ethnicity are at an increased risk.

Participants will have their weight and blood pressure measured and medical professionals will conduct blood and urine tests.

Recent studies have indicated the prevalence and incidence of CKD is rapidly increasing in the United States, and Hawaii has one of the highest rates of kidney failure in the nation.

It is called "The Silent Killer" because there are often no symptoms until the late stages of CKD. Early detection screenings allows intervention that may reverse, stop or at least slow the progression to kidney failure.

Participants of this screening must be 18 years or older. Fasting eight hours prior is recommended but not required.

Space is limited to 125 individuals, so call early to pre-register and make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome on a first come first serve basis.

To pre-register or for more information, please contact the Early Intervention and Prevention Coordinator at (808) 589-5903 or email jill@kidneyhi.org.