Chronic Kidney Disease, What You Should Know?
Chronic Kidney Disease, Overview:
What is Chronic Kidney Disease?
The term “chronic kidney disease” means lasting damage to the kidneys that can get worse over time. If the damage is very bad, your kidneys may stop working. This is called kidney failure, or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to live.
In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, you may have few signs or symptoms. Chronic kidney disease may not become apparent until your kidney function is significantly impaired.
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2. Sign & Symptoms:
Signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease develop over time if kidney damage progresses slowly. Signs and symptoms of kidney disease may include:
You may notice one or more of the following symptoms if your kidneys are beginning to fail:
- Itching.
- Muscle cramps.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Not feeling hungry.
- Swelling in your feet and ankles.
- Too much urine (pee) or not enough urine.
- Trouble catching your breath.
- Trouble sleeping.
If your kidneys stop working suddenly (acute kidney failure), you may notice one or more of the following symptoms:
- Abdominal (belly) pain.
- Back pain.
- Diarrhea.
- Fever.
- Nosebleeds.
- Rash
- Vomiting.
Having one or more of any of the symptoms above may be a sign of serious kidney problems. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor right away.
When To See a Doctor?
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you.
3. Chronic Kidney Disease Causes
:
Chronic kidney disease occurs when a disease or condition impairs kidney function, causing kidney damage to worsen over several months or years.
- Diabetes.
- High blood pressure (hypertension).
- Heart disease.
- Having a family member with kidney disease.
- Being African-American, Hispanic, Native American or Asian.
- Being over 60 years old.
Risk Factors:
Factors that may increase your risk of chronic kidney disease include:
- Diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- Heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease.
- Smoking.
- Obesity.
- Being African-American, Native American or Asian-American.
- The family history of kidney disease.
- Abnormal kidney structure.
- Older age.
5. Complications of CKD:
Your kidneys help your whole body work properly. When you have CKD, you can also have problems with how the rest of your body is working. Some of the common complications of CKD include anemia, bone disease, heart disease, high potassium, high calcium and fluid buildup.
I. Anemia.
Your kidneys help your body make red blood cells. When your kidneys are not working properly, your body may not have enough red blood cells
II. Bone disease and high phosphorus (hyperphosphatemia).
You need calcium and vitamin D to have healthy bones. Healthy kidneys help keep your bones healthy. If you have CKD, your kidneys may not be able to do this important job
III. Heart disease:
Heart disease can cause kidney disease, but kidney disease can also cause heart disease. Heart disease is the most common cause of death among people on dialysis.
IV. High potassium (hyperkalemia):
Healthy kidneys filter extra potassium (a mineral found in many foods) from the blood. If you have CKD, you need to limit your potassium because your kidneys may not be able to filter it
V. Fluid buildup:
Fluid retention, which could lead to swelling in your arms and legs, high blood pressure, or fluid in your lungs (pulmonary edema)
Prevention:
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of CKD. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, working with your doctor to keep your blood sugar and blood pressure under control is the best way to prevent kidney disease.
Living a healthy lifestyle can help prevent diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease, or help keep them under control. Follow these tips to lower your risk for kidney disease and the problems that cause it:
- Follow a low-salt, low-fat diet
- Exercise at least 30 minutes on most days of the week
- Have regular check-ups with your doctor
- Do not smoke or use tobacco
- Limit alcohol
CKD Stages:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) refers to all 5 stages of kidney damage, from very mild damage in Stage 1 to complete kidney failure in Stage 5. The stages of kidney disease are based on how well the kidneys can do their job – to filter waste and extra fluid out of the blood.
Diagnosis:
For kidney disease diagnosis, you may also need certain tests and procedures, such as:
- Blood tests: Such as creatinine and urea, in your blood.
- Urine tests: help to identify the cause of chronic kidney disease.
- Imaging tests: Your doctor may use ultrasound to assess your kidneys’ structure and size. Other imaging tests may be used in some cases.
- Removing a sample of kidney tissue for testing: The kidney biopsy is often done with local anesthesia using a long, thin needle that’s inserted through your skin and into your kidney. The biopsy sample is sent to a lab for testing to help determine what’s causing your kidney problem.
CKD Treatment:
How is CKD treated?
Damage to your kidneys is usually permanent. Although the damage cannot be fixed, you can take steps to keep your kidneys as healthy as possible for as long as possible. You may even be able to stop the damage from getting worse.
- Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
- Keep a healthy blood pressure.
- Follow a low-salt, low-fat diet.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Do not smoke or use tobacco.
- Limit alcohol.
- Talk to your doctor about medicines that can help protect your kidneys.
If you catch kidney disease early, you may be able to prevent kidney failure. If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.
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Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”
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