Kidneys that function properly are critical for maintaining good health. Your kidneys, each just the size of a computer mouse, filter all the blood in your body every 30 minutes. They work hard to remove wastes, toxins, and excess fluid. They also help control blood pressure, stimulate the production of red blood cells, keep your bones healthy, and regulate blood chemicals that are essential to life.

Chronic kidney disease is a slow and progressive loss of kidney function over a period of several years. Eventually, a person will develop permanent kidney failure.

WHAT IS A CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE?

 

Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic renal failure, chronic renal disease, or chronic kidney failure, is much more widespread than people realize; it often goes undetected and undiagnosed until the disease is well advanced.

CKD is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as they should. Because of this, excess fluid and waste from blood remain in the body and may cause other health problems, such as heart disease and stroke.

Some other health consequences of CKD include:

• Anemia or low number of red blood cells

• Increased occurrence of infections

• Low calcium levels, high potassium levels, and high phosphorus levels in the blood

• Loss of appetite or eating less

• Depression or lower quality of life

SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Most people may not have any severe symptoms until their kidney disease is advanced. However, you may notice that you:

• feel more tired and have less energy

• have trouble concentrating

• have a poor appetite

• have trouble sleeping

• have muscle cramping at night

• have swollen feet and ankles

• have puffiness around your eyes, especially in the morning

• have dry, itchy skin

• need to urinate more often, especially at night.

WHO CAN GET CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE?

Anyone can get chronic kidney disease at any age. However, some people are more likely than others to develop kidney disease. You may have an increased risk for kidney disease if you:

• have diabetes

• have high blood pressure

• have a family history of kidney failure

• are older

• belong to a population group that has a high rate of diabetes or high blood pressure, such as African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian, Pacific Islanders, and American Indians.

TESTS TO DETECT CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

CKD can be diagnosed using blood and urine tests. These tests look for high levels of certain substances in your blood and urine that are signs your kidneys aren’t working properly.

Being tested for kidney disease is simple. Ask your doctor about these tests for kidney health:

1. eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate)

• The eGFR is a sign of how well your kidneys are cleaning your blood.

• You will have a blood test to find out how much creatinine is in your blood. Your doctor will use this information to figure out your eGFR. If your eGFR is less than 60 for three months or more, you might have kidney disease.

1. Urine test

• This test is done to see if there is blood or protein in your urine (pee).

• 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.

1. 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.

If you’re at a high risk of developing kidney disease (for example, you have a known risk factor such as high blood pressure or diabetes), you may be advised to have regular tests to check for CKD so it’s found at an early stage.

The results of your blood and urine tests can be used to tell the stage of your kidney disease. This is a number that reflects how severe the damage to your kidneys is, with a higher number indicating more serious CKD.

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