Chronic Kidney Disease
On this page, you will find everything you need to know about chronic kidney disease.
WhatareChronicKidneyDiseases?
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a long-term (chronic) condition that occurs when the kidneys do not function completely as they should, resulting in the accumulation of toxins in the body. The kidneys’ primary function is to filter (clean) the blood and eliminate toxins, waste, salt, and excess water through urine. Accumulation of toxins, waste, and fluids in the body can lead to other problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney failure.
What are the symptoms of chronic kidney disease?
In the early stages, there are generally no clear symptoms. It is only diagnosed during medical examinations for another issue or through routine tests for a potential problem, such as blood or urine tests.
- In the advancedstages, symptomsmay include:.
- Weight loss and poor appetite.
- Swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands due to water retention.
- Shortness of breath and chest pain.
- Blood in the urine.
- Increased need to urinate,especially at night..
- Sleep problems and insomnia.
- Muscle cramps..
- Headaches.
Difficulty concentrating.
What causes chronic kidney disease?
- Several factors can increase the risk of developing CKD, including:.
- High blood pressure..
- Diabetes.
- Heart diseases..
- Obesity.
- Family history of kidney failure.
- Smoking.
- Highcholesterol.
- Polycystic kidney disease isa genetic disorder thatcauses many cysts togrow in the kidneys.
- Lupus is a chronic autoimmune diseaseaffecting different parts of the body.
- Glomerulonephritis is a type of kidney disease where the kidney’s filters, which help filter waste and fluids from the blood, are inflamed.
Renal artery stenosis is the narrowing of one of the kidney arteries.
What are the Diagnostic Methods?:
- A doctor will take a medical history and perform a physicalexamination, and may request additional procedures if needed, such as:
- Blood test to check how well thekidneys are filtering waste from the blood.
- Urine test to check for albumin (a protein present in the blood, which moves to the urine when the kidneys are damaged). A high level of albumin in urine indicates kidney damage.
Filtration rate test, a blood test that measures the amount of blood passing through the glomeruli, the tiny filters in the kidneys that filter waste from the blood.
What are the Treatment MethodsCKDfor Chronic Kidney Disease?
- There is no cure for CKD, but some advice can help alleviate symptoms and prevent them from worsening, such as:
- Managingbloodpressure.
- If you have diabetes, monitor and control blood sugar levels.
- Keep your appointments.
- Ensure you take your medications, and if you have kidney disease, do not use medications without your doctor’s knowledge.
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet, and avoid foods rich in salt and sodium.
- Maintain regular physical activity.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Ensure you getenough sleep.
- Quit smoking. To help you with this,here’s a guide on quitting smoking..
Find healthy ways to manage stress and depression.
In the stage of kidney failure or kidney damage (the final stages),:where the kidneys are unable to perform their function, treatment is through:
Dialysis: a process that removes waste and excess:fluids from the blood using a dialysis machine.
Kidney transplantation: A surgical procedure in which the damaged kidney is replaced with a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor. After the operation, patients must take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection of the new organ.
- How to Prevent Chronic Kidney Diseases?
- Maintain a healthy and balanced diet, focusing onfruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.).
- Reduce foods containing salt (sodium).
- Monitor yourblood pressure..
- Monitor your bloodsugar levels ifyou have diabetes.
- Maintain normal cholesterollevels inyour body.
- Reduce excess weight if youare obese or overweight..
- Engage in regular exercise. For more details, read the Get Moving Guide.
- Adhere to regularkidney function check-ups..
Avoid smoking or quit smoking if you are a smoker; for more details, read the Quit Smoking Guide.
- What are the complications of chronic kidney disease?
- Heart disease includes an increased risk of stroke and heart attack.
- High bloodpressure.
- Anemia.
- Bone diseases.
- Malnutrition.
- Decreased immune response,which increases therisk of infection.
High potassium (hyperkalemia) affects the heart’s ability to function correctly.
When Should You See a Doctor?
- If you have persistent symptoms of chronic kidney disease, such as:
- Weight loss or poor appetite.
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, and hands.
- Shortness of breath.
- Blood in urine.
Increased need to urinate more than usual, especially at night.
- You shouldalso haveregular kidneyfunction testsif you:
- Have diabetes, as diabetics should havetheir kidney function tested annually..
- Suffer from high blood pressure.
- Have heart disease.
- Have a family historyof kidney failure.
- Suffer from kidney stones.
- Suffer from anenlarged prostate.
Have lupus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is kidney failure or kidney damage (the final stage)?
