Chronic Kidney Disease (1)
One in nine adult Americans has chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, many don’t realize they have reduced kidney function.
CKD means decreased function of the kidneys. Over time, the condition may progress and your kidneys may fail.
One common misconception about CKD is that it’s something you don’t have to worry about right now. Your kidneys are functioning and everything is fine, so that means kidney failure won’t happen to you.
This is a false hope that causes many people not to maintain their health and therefore increases the damage to their kidneys.
There are things you can do to maintain or improve your health, and there are things you can do to protect your kidneys from further deterioration.
CKD doesn’t go away. This isn’t something you can watch for awhile and then suddenly everything becomes "normal" again and you never have to worry about CKD. CKD means you’re at greater risk for kidney failure. If you do nothing, chances are your kidneys will fail.
Will I know if I start to have kidney problems?
Not necessarily. The early signs of CKD can be subtle and therefore many people do not realize they have symptoms of the condition.
The symptoms can include high blood pressure, blood in the urine and swelling in the legs, feet or hands. The only way to know for sure if you’re starting to have kidney problems is a simple test which detects protein in the urine. Do not wait for signs of kidney damage to have your urine tested.
There are several conditions and diseases that can eventually lead to CKD. Two of the most common conditions are diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure).
Diabetes is the single leading cause of kidney failure in the United States, accounting for about 44 percent of the people who start treatment for kidney failure each year, and about 38 percent of all Americans being treated for kidney failure.
Twenty-six point five percent have high blood pressure as causes of kidney disease. The remaining 29.8 percent lost kidney function due to another condition. Because diabetes and hypertension are two of the main causes of kidney failure, these conditions are explained in further detail in the next section. Most people with kidney disease have hypertension.
A Friendly Note:
If you have one of the below mentioned conditions it doesn’t mean you WILL develop kidney failure, however, it does mean you’re at greater risk and it’s in your best interest to understand your condition and do what’s necessary to maintain your health.You’re also at greater risk if you are African American and/or have a first degree relative (mother, father or sibling) with kidney disease.
Diabetes
- Diabetes is a disease of high blood glucose (sugar) levels caused by either a reduction or lack of insulin or resistance to it in the body. High glucose can disrupt the structure and function of blood vessels. Most people with type 2 diabetes do not have a reduction in insulin but the body does not react to insulin in a normal fashion. This is often associated with obesity and occurs after the age of 30. People with diabetes have an insulin deficiency, which results in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates, fat and protein. Over time, the small vessels of the kidneys are affected, causing destruction of the filters of the kidneys.Diabetes has become the most common single cause of end-stage renal disease or kidney failure in the United States and Europe. People with diabetes constitute over half of those currently starting dialysis.
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- High blood pressure damages the blood vessels in the kidneys and reduces the blood supply to the kidneys. If you control it, you may be able to slow down the kidney damage.Glomerulonephritis
- Glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the filters of both the kidneys. This is sometimes due to infection. It results in slow, progressive damage. Early diagnosis is difficult because there are minimal symptoms in the early stages of this disease.Nephrotic Syndrome
- Nephrotic syndrome occurs when excess amounts of protein pass from the blood into the urine. Nephrotic syndrome results from massive losses of protein, large amounts of water stay in your body. This causes overall swelling in your body, called edema.Polycystic Kidney Disease
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited disease in which abnormal sacs, called cysts, develop in the kidneys. These cysts usually contain fluid, gas or tissue. As these cysts grow, they block normal kidney function. Cysts may be painful because of the blockages. Cysts can get infected and can bleed. If you have polycystic kidney disease, you’ll still urinate in normal amounts, but the harmful waste products are not removed from the body.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Lupus causes inflammation in all organs in the body, including the kidneys.Chronic Pyleonephritis or Kidney Infection
- Kidney infection is an inflammation of the tissues of the kidneys surrounding the filters. Infection and other forms of inflammation, if left untreated, can cause kidney failure. There is no evidence that kidney infections alone (i.e. without structural abnormalities like obstruction or scarring) can cause kidney failure.Kidney Stones
- Kidney stones can form anywhere in the urinary tract. The stones may cause painful or pain-free blockages in the drainage system of the kidney. When this happens, the kidneys can be damaged due to the pressure of urine backup or infections.Prostate Obstruction
- As men age, the prostate can grow, blocking normal urine drainage.Family Connection
- If you have a family member who’s on dialysis or who’s had a kidney transplant, you may be at an increased risk of developing kidney disease.