World Kidney Day is meant to raise awareness of the increasing problem of kidney disease, to educate people on treatment options and how to avoid the disease.

The Second Annual World Kidney Day is March 13. Free screenings will be offered all over world, including at the UT Medical Center. People ages 18 and older can be screened at the Transplant Center from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. The Kidney Foundation's Kidney Early Evaluation Program funds the screenings, which is open to the public.

Danae Miley, patient services coordinator for the Kidney Foundation and KEEP program manager said, "People with diabetes, high blood pressure or family history of these and kidney disease are all eligible for screening."

The screenings include blood pressure measurement, weight, height and full urine analysis, a diabetes test and a full blood test checks kidney score. Doctors are on site to go over the results with patients.

About 70 to 75 percent of people screened find they are at risk for or have some form of kidney disease, according to Miley.

Debra Winston, with the Center for Transplant Services at UT Medical Center, said "A lot of people find out they are at risk, and need to change their lifestyle, and there are other things that they can do to prevent or delay the need for dialysis or transplant."

According to Miley, certain groups have a higher risk of kidney disease, including blacks and Hispanics. Of the 45 blacks tested at a location last month, 37 found out they had kidney disease.

"Since 2006, kidney disease rates have risen over 30 percent, an amazing increase. Access to medical care isn't there; people don't take care of themselves like they should. Diabetes and high blood pressure rates are through the roof across the nation in addition to obesity," Miley said.

Kidney disease can be found in all age groups.

"Not many people in their twenties come, but we would like to see more of them because if we catch it early, it's going to be very beneficial. We are seeing a lot of younger people needing dialysis and transplant. It can strike anybody at anytime and a lot of times you don't even know you have kidney disease. Symptoms are so subtle you don't notice them," said Winston.

Symptoms include: fatigue, poor concentration, loss of appetite, swollen ankles or feet, muscle cramps at night, dry skin, frequent urge to urinate, especially at night, and puffy eyes in the morning, according to the National Kidney Foundation Web site.

If kidney disease is caught in the early stages, medication and lifestyle changes can delay the need for dialysis or transplant. Research is currently underway that aims to find alternatives to dialysis or transplant.