What is chronic kidney disease
A progressive loss of kidney function is a feature of chronic kidney disease, commonly known as chronic kidney failure. Urine is the result of your kidneys filtering waste products and extra fluid from your blood. Your body may accumulate hazardous amounts of fluid, electrolytes, and waste products if you have advanced chronic renal disease.
You may have few symptoms in the early stages of chronic renal disease. You may not become aware that you have kidney disease until it has progressed.
The goal of treating chronic kidney disease is to decrease the course of kidney damage, typically by addressing the underlying cause. However, even addressing the root problem may not stop kidney disease from getting worse. Without artificial filtering, chronic kidney disease can lead to end-stage renal failure, which is lethal.
Symptoms of chronic kidney disease
If kidney damage occurs gradually, signs and symptoms of chronic renal disease appear over time. Electrolyte issues or a buildup of bodily waste or fluid can result from impaired kidney function. Loss of kidney function can result in the following, depending on its severity:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue and weakness
- Sleep problems
- Urinating more or less
- Decreased mental sharpness
- Muscle cramps
- Swelling of feet and ankles
- Dry, itchy skin
- High blood pressure (hypertension) that’s difficult to control
- Shortness of breath, if fluid builds up in the lungs
- Chest pain, if fluid builds up around the lining of the heart
- Kidney disease symptoms and indicators are sometimes vague. This implies that other ailments may possibly be the cause of them. You may not experience symptoms until irreparable harm has been done since your kidneys can compensate for reduced function.
Chronic kidney disease stages
The degree of kidney damage, as assessed by blood and urine tests, determines the phases of chronic kidney disease (CKD):
Stage 1: Damage to the kidneys with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of greater than 90 mL/min/1.73 m2, either normal or elevated
Stage 2: A slight decline in GFR between 60 and 89 mL/min/1.73 m2.
Stage 3A: significant drop in GFR of 45–59 mL/min/1.73 m2 is stage 3a.
Stage 3b: GFR declines moderately by 30–44 mL/min/1.73 m2.
Stage 4: GFR drops significantly to 15–29 mL/min/1.73 m2.
Stage 5: Dialysis or kidney failure, defined as a GFR of less than 15 mL/min/1.73 m2.
The kidneys’ functionality is shown by the phases of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The kidneys can still remove waste from the blood in the early stages, but they may eventually stop functioning completely.
Although kidney failure is a progressive condition, not everyone will experience it. Early-stage symptoms are frequently subtle and simple to ignore. People with diabetes or high blood pressure, the two main causes of kidney damage, should have regular exams. The progression of CKD can be slowed or stopped with early detection and treatment of underlying diseases.
Chronic kidney disease causes
Numerous illnesses that put stress on the kidneys might result in chronic kidney disease (CKD), including:
Diabetes: Diabetes-related high blood sugar can harm the kidneys’ blood arteries and filters.
High blood pressure: High blood pressure has the potential to harm the kidneys’ tiny blood capillaries over time.
renal infections: If ignored, urinary tract infections (UTIs) have the potential to spread to the kidneys and result in renal failure.
Kidney stones: Urine flow can be obstructed by kidney stones.
Prostate enlargement: Prostate enlargement might obstruct urine flow.
pharmaceuticals: Long-term use of some pharmaceuticals, including lithium and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can harm the kidneys.
Smoking: The progression of renal disease can be accelerated by smoking.
Disorders that are inherited include polycystic kidney disease.
Other conditions: Heart disease, lupus, and other immune system diseases can cause kidney problems.
Chronic kidney disease treatment
Changes in lifestyle
These can help you maintain your health and consist of:
Consuming a nutritious diet
Managing blood pressure and blood sugar
Keeping a healthy weight
Getting 30 minutes of exercise five days a week
Absence of tobacco use or smoking
Medicines
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two related issues that this can help manage. For instance, statins reduce cholesterol, which helps prevent coronary heart disease. Heart failure and excessive blood pressure can be treated with angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
Dialysis
This kidney replacement treatment controls fluid balance and eliminates waste from the circulation. If your kidneys quit functioning, it’s essential. Unless you can acquire a replacement kidney, you will have to continue dialysis for the rest of your life.
Transplantation of kidneys
In advanced (stage 5) CKD, this might be required. The donor kidney is positioned in your lower abdomen and attached to your bladder during surgery. Unless they are causing problems, your own kidneys are often kept in situ.
When you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), your kidneys are unable to remove excess fluid or toxins from your blood as effectively as they should. Although CKD cannot be cured, therapy can lessen symptoms and delay the disease’s progression.
