Chronic Kidney Disease- Raum Ua Hauj Lwm Tsis Zoo

9/12/20242 min read

Introduction to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a long-term condition where the kidneys slowly lose their ability to work properly. Your kidneys are essential for filtering waste and excess fluids from your blood, which are then removed through urine. When your kidneys are damaged, waste builds up in your body, which can make you very sick over time.

What Causes CKD?

CKD usually happens because of other health problems. Some common causes include:

Diabetes: High blood sugar levels can damage the tiny filters in your kidneys.
High Blood Pressure: This can harm blood vessels in the kidneys, making it harder for them to filter blood.
Other conditions: Diseases like glomerulonephritis (inflammation of kidney filters) and polycystic kidney disease (a genetic disorder causing cysts in the kidneys) can also lead to CKD.

How Does CKD Progress?

CKD is often divided into five stages, based on how well your kidneys are filtering your blood:

Stage 1: Kidney damage with normal function.
Stage 2: Mild loss of kidney function.
Stage 3: Moderate loss of kidney function.
Stage 4: Severe loss of kidney function.
Stage 5: Kidney failure, which is when the kidneys are very close to stopping working completely.

Symptoms of CKD

CKD often doesn't show symptoms until the damage is serious. Some early signs might include:

Feeling more tired than usual
Swelling in your ankles or feet (called edema)
Changes in how much you urinate

As CKD gets worse, you might experience:

Nausea or vomiting
Itchy skin
Muscle cramps
Shortness of breath

Complications of CKD

If CKD isn’t managed well, it can lead to serious health problems, including:

Heart disease: CKD increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Anemia: This happens when your kidneys don’t make enough of a hormone called erythropoietin, which helps produce red blood cells.
Bone disease: CKD can lead to weakened bones and fractures.

Managing CKD

There’s no cure for CKD, but you can slow its progress and manage the symptoms:

Medications: Doctors might prescribe medicines to control blood pressure, manage diabetes, or treat other symptoms like anemia.
Dialysis or Transplant: In advanced stages, treatments like dialysis (a machine that filters your blood) or a kidney transplant might be necessary.

Lifestyle Changes for CKD

Living with CKD means making some changes to your daily habits:

Diet: Reducing salt, potassium, and phosphorus in your diet can help protect your kidneys.
Exercise: Staying active helps keep your body healthy and your blood pressure in check.
Avoiding harmful habits: Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol can prevent further damage to your kidneys.

In summary, Chronic Kidney Disease is a serious condition, but with the right treatment and lifestyle changes, you can manage it effectively and maintain a good quality of life. Regular check-ups with your doctor are important to catch the disease early and slow its progression. See your doctor for medical advice!

References:

National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.). Chronic kidney disease (CKD). Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd

UpToDate. (n.d.). Chronic kidney disease: The basics. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/chronic-kidney-disease-the-basics?search=chronic%20kidney%20disease&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1%7E150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1