Healthy kidneys are what keeps us active and energetic for years together. The more we look after our kidneys’ health, the more healthy we stay. Apart from filtering waste and toxins from our blood and producing urine to remove this waste, our kidneys perform many functions. But sometimes, kidneys may not function well, and this slowly affects our health. Over time, the symptoms start to show up, tand hat’s when patients are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD). So what causes lead to this CKD disease, and what are the exact signs/symptoms, and stages of this disease? Whether you are already diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, someone you know has been affected with this conditiion, or you are just curious to know about this kidney disease, this blog has all the information you need to know about CKD.
The Importance of Kidney Health
- Waste Removal: Any extra water or toxins are filtered out with the help of kidneys. One of their main functions is to filter our blood and remove waste products to keep us healthy. Our kidneys then excrete this waste from our body in the form of urine.
- Electrolyte Balance: Cell function is determined by the electrolytes in our body. Sodium, Potassium, and Calcium are some of the electrolytes that are regulated by our kidneys. They help us maintain a proper balance of electrolytes for our overall body function.
- Blood Pressure Regulation: For a stable blood pressure, there should be control of the volume of blood in our body. Kidneys regulate our blood pressure by maintaining a stable flow of blood, which decreases related health issues like hypertension, etc.
- Hormone Production: Our kidneys also produce hormones that maintain our overall health. Some of these hormones are related to vitamin D, which is very important in maintaining bone health.
- Red Blood Cell Production: The erythropoietin (EPO) hormone produced by our kidneys help in stimulating the bone marrow in order to produce red blood cells. When the kidney function decline, our body will not have enough supply of red blood cells.
- Maintaining Body pH: Kidneys also help in maintaining our body pH by regulating the bicarbonate in our blood and removing acids or bases to balance the overall pH. This allows the filtering of extra acids and good maintenance of a proper amount of bases in the blood.
What is Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, is the non-functioning of the kidneys as they used to. This does not just happen suddenly, but it gradually progresses to become a chronic condition. There are two tests that helps your doctor check if your kidneys are performing well. These tests will be conducted for at least 3 months to check your eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate, the creatinine amount, and UACR ratio (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio). There are many stages of this disease, and your kidney specialist can help you identify which stage your kidney disease is in. This is how CKD is diagnosed, and you will be provided with options for treatment.
Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease
- Fetal development issues: When there is an issue during fetal development, the kidneys fail to develop properly, which might later lead to chronic kidney disease.
- Metal poisoning: If the kidneys are affected by metal poisoning, like lead, it gradually turns into chronic kidney disease.
- Malaria and yellow fever: Sometimes, diseases caused by mosquitoes like yellow fever and malaria are also the cause of chronic kidney disease.
- Illegal substance use: One of the causes of CKD is also linked to using illegal substances like drugs.
- Injury to kidneys: Physical injury to the kidneys can damage them and cause a chronic condition.
- Blocked urine flow: If the bladder path is obstructed, the urine can go back to the kidneys and increase pressure on other organs. It can also happen due to an abnormally sized prostate, kidney stones, or a tumor.
- Kidney diseases: PKD, glomerulonephritis, and other kidney diseases like pyelonephritis are also one of cause of CKD.
Apart from these causes, CKD also happens due to uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension, which can further damage the part of the kidneys that filters out waste from blood.
What Are the Various Symptoms of CKD
- Urinating frequency has increased or decreased
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, face, etc
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weakness and fatigue
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Loss of appetite
Look out for these kidney failure symptoms like blood in the urine, foamy urine, edema (swelling up), frequent urination at night, itchy skin, muscle cramps, joint pains, shortness of breath, etc.
Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease
- Stage 1: The glomerular filtration rate (GRF) is 90 ml/minute per 1.73 meters squared and the urine can include protein as evidence of kidney damage.
- Stage 2: Here, the glomerular rate of the kidneys is 60-89 ml/minute per 1.73 meters squared, for which medications might be suggested.
- Stage 3: Among the kidney disease stages, the glomerular filtration rate reaches 30-59 ml/minute per 1.73 meters squared, which is a sure sign of chronic kidney disease. In this stage, some patients experience symptoms like frequent urination, anemia, bone disease, swelling, lower back pain, and hypertension.
- Stage 4: The glomerular comes down to 15-29 ml/minute per 1.73 meters squared, which means the kidneys have been damaged either severely to are going to be damaged soon. Symptoms like anemia or bone disease are also very likely in this stage.
- Stage 5: Here, the GFR rate comes down to 15 ml/minute per 1.73 meters squared, which means the kidneys are close to failing or have already failed.
Treatment for Kidney Disease (CKD)
- Avoiding NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)
- By being aware of the early signs of kidney disease, patients can follow a proper diet by consulting a nutrition counselor or a dietitian.
- Kidney dialysis for end-stage CKD, like peritoneal dialysis or haemodialysis
- Kidney transplant
Conclusion
In conclusion, chronic kidney disease can impact the overall health of a patient. There are many risk factors for CKD, like diabetes, heart disease, genetics, kidney disease, high blood pressure, etc. By knowing the symptoms of kidney disease and treatment options, patients can look after their kidneys and their overall health.
