What is Kidney Disease?
More than one in ten adult Americans has chronic kidney disease. Many don鈥檛 know what it is, how damaging it can be ... or that they have it at all.
Taking control of your kidney health
Chronic kidney disease is preventable. If you find out early that you have it, you can slow down or stop the damage.
Prevention
By taking care of your kidneys while they鈥檙e healthy, you can greatly reduce your chance of developing chronic kidney disease.听
Risk factors
Depending on your family history, ethnic background and pre-existing health conditions, you may be at a greater risk for听kidney disease.听
Getting diagnosed
Early diagnosis of kidney disease increases your chance of living a long and healthy life.听
Common questions
- Kidney disease is often used as a casual term for 鈥渃hronic kidney disease.鈥� Since there are a number of different kidney diseases, it鈥檚 more accurate to use the name of the specific disease or听the full term “chronic kidney disease.”
- Chronic kidney disease is the gradual and progressive decrease in kidney function caused by heightened strain on the kidneys. People often shorten the name to CKD.
- Kidney failure听refers to kidney damage so significant that dialysis or a transplant is needed to survive. Chronic kidney failure听is also called听end-stage kidney disease or听end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
The best way to find out if you have chronic kidney disease is to visit your doctor and ask for a series of simple tests. After checking your blood pressure and testing your urine and blood, your doctor will be able to make a diagnosis.听
- Heart disease.听Chronic kidney disease and heart disease are strongly linked. Most people with chronic kidney disease die of heart and blood vessel disease (heart attacks, strokes and heart failure) before they ever need dialysis.
- High blood pressure.听High blood pressure causes chronic kidney disease, but kidney disease also causes high blood pressure. High blood pressure leads to heart and blood vessel disease, so controlling blood pressure is very important.
- Anemia.听When damaged kidneys fail to release the hormone that tells your body to make red blood cells, you get anemia. Anemia can make you so tired that it鈥檚 hard to stay active and independent.听
- Calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D.听Calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D in your body can get out of balance because your kidneys help control levels of these substances. This can cause bone disease. Calcium buildup in your blood vessels may lead to heart disease.
- Potassium.听Potassium is an electrolyte necessary for your body to function. With chronic kidney disease, your potassium levels can get too high. This can prevent muscles, including your heart, from working properly.
- Malnutrition.听Chronic kidney disease can make it hard for you to eat the way you should. It can affect your appetite, and you may have a number of diet restrictions. A registered听dietitian can give advice to听help you stay well nourished and healthy.
- Uremia.听Uremia is a sign听that your chronic kidney disease is very advanced. You may have nausea and vomiting, swelling, trouble thinking clearly, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, and heart problems. Without treatment, you鈥檙e at risk of death.
Attend one of our classes to learn how to best manage your kidney disease.
- Take care of your heart听
- Control your blood pressure
- Treat anemia
- Monitor blood sugar if you have diabetes
- Eat well and exercise 鈫� Find out more about nutrition and fitness
- Stop smoking
- Guard against depression
Your doctor may also ask you to:
- Reduce your phosphorus intake听
- Cut down on potassium
The “stages” of chronic kidney disease indicate how much听kidney damage听has occurred. Each stage measured by how much blood the kidneys can filter per minute, also known as the glomerular filtration rate.听
- Stage 1 鈥� normal or high kidney function (GFR of more than 90 mL/min).听
- Stage 2 鈥� mild decline in kidney function (GFR of 60-89 mL/min).听
- Stage 3A 鈥� mild to moderate decline in kidney function (GFR of 45-59 mL/min).
- Stage 3B 鈥� moderate to severe decline in kidney function (GFR of 30-44 mL/min).
- Stage 4听 鈥� severe decline in kidney function (GFR of 15-29 mL/min).听
- Stage 5听 鈥�听 end-stage kidney disease, also known as kidney failure (GFR of less than 15 mL/min).听
The more you know, the more you鈥檙e able to make good decisions and work on positive changes. 黑料黑历史 offers听free classes and online nutrition guides.听And we are happy to听refer you to other organizations’听resources available to help you take control of your kidney health.听