World Kidney Day (12 March)
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. If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to live.
What causes chronic kidney disease?
Anyone can get chronic kidney disease. Some people are more at risk than others. Some things that increase your risk for chronic kidney disease include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Heart disease
- Having a family member with kidney disease
- Being over 60 years old
Complications of chronic kidney disease
Your kidneys help your whole-body work properly. When you have chronic kidney disease, you can also have problems with how the rest of your body is working. Some of the common complications of chronic kidney disease include anemia, bone disease, heart disease, high potassium, high calcium and fluid buildup.
Stages of chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease 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.
How can I prevent chronic kidney disease?
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of chronic kidney disease. 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
How do I know if I have chronic kidney disease?
Chronic kidney disease usually does not have any symptoms until your kidneys are badly damaged. The only way to know how well your kidneys are working is to get tested. Being tested for kidney disease is simple. Ask your doctor about these tests for kidney health:
- Urine test - This test is done to see if there is blood or protein in your urine. Your kidneys make your urine. If you have blood or protein in your urine, it may be a sign that your kidneys are not working well. Your doctor may ask you for a sample of your urine in the clinic or ask you to collect your urine at home and bring it to your appointment.
- Blood pressure - This test is done to see how hard your heart is working to pump your blood. High blood pressure can cause kidney disease, but kidney disease can also cause high blood pressure. Sometimes high blood pressure is a sign that your kidneys are not working well. For most people a normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 (120 over 80). Ask your doctor what your blood pressure should be.
How is chronic kidney disease 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.