According to the German Kidney Association, kidney problems are a common side effect of high blood pressure.

The kidneys helps to keep the blood pressure in a healthy range and blood pressure can affect the health of the kidneys.

Most of the people with high blood pressure have no symptoms. The best way to know whether a person’s blood pressure is high is to have a regular check up.

The association has advised people with high blood pressure to take an annual urine test to check protein levels. A high level indicates the kidney is under performing its filtering duties.

Werner Riegel, President of the association said, "Loss of kidney function is often only noticed when the patient has almost reached the stage of renal failure."

People pushing 35 years of age are advised to take urine protein test as a part of any annual check-up, people who are with normal blood pressure should consider the test every other year once they hit 35.