What You Need To Know About Kidney Disease

Kidneys are vital for maintaining good health. They filter the body’s blood every 30 minutes and remove any waste, toxins, or extra fluid. But “kidney disease is a serious health concern that affects millions of people worldwide. It silently progresses, often leading to devastating consequences if left unchecked.”

Anyone can get kidney disease, but the most common causes are uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes, which damage the blood vessels in the kidneys over time. Other causes include inherited kidney diseases like polycystic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidney’s filtering units), prolonged urinary tract obstructions, and recurrent kidney infections.

“Other risk factors are autoimmune conditions, the most common of which is lupus. It can cause nephritis, which is an inflammation of the kidney. Heart failure or heart disease can also increase your risk of kidney disease. Other common things in life, like smoking, obesity, and alcohol abuse, can cause damage to the kidneys.”

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR KIDNEY DISEASE

Keep Your Diabetes In Check

To manage diabetes with kidney disease, control blood sugar and blood pressure through diet, exercise, and medication. Do not let your diabetes remain uncontrolled. A healthy diet is crucial, as well as regular physical activity, a manageable weight, and quitting smoking. Also, keep your cholesterol at healthy levels.

• Reduce intake of salt, especially from processed foods. Limit sugar and monitor potassium levels.

• Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity a day, such as brisk walking or swimming.

• Work with your healthcare team and a dietitian who specializes in kidney disease.

• Manage conditions such as anemia, mineral and bone disorders. These are common complications of kidney disease.

Control Your Blood Pressure

Hypertensive kidney disease is common. This happens when blood pressure remains uncontrolled. Thus, taking steps to control blood pressure will slow down kidney disease.

• Take all prescribed medications correctly to keep your numbers close to your goal.

• Limit alcohol and caffeine. Excessive use can spike your blood pressure.

• Manage your stress with deep breathing, meditation, or participating in hobbies.

• Regularly check your blood pressure at home and communicate your numbers to your doctor.

• Quit smoking. Smoking damages the blood vessels and makes your blood pressure worse.

Look For Signs And Symptoms

Typically, there are no symptoms associated with kidney disease. But you can watch for any signs from the body that there is a problem. “Fluid retention is very important. You start swelling because your body’s not clearing waste and toxins because it’s not producing as much urine.”

• When you retain fluid, you also retain electrolytes. This can cause muscle cramps.

• Potassium is a common electrolyte that is retained. This can cause arrhythmias of the heart. Monitor your potassium levels, especially with advanced stages of kidney disease.

• Damage to your kidneys can cause anemia.

• Kidney problems are associated with the regulation of calcium. This can cause osteoporosis.

Treat Heart Failure

If you have heart failure, your blood is not pumping proper amounts to each organ. The less blood available, the more damage done to your kidneys. Sepsis (an infection in the entire body) can lower blood pressure, which injures the kidneys. “Heart failure, septic shock, or infection can be resolved. If you treat the underlying condition, your blood flow will return, your infection will be cleared, and it can help.”

Treating heart failure is vital when you also have kidney disease. When living with both, studies show the median time for survival is approximately 2.2 years. Treatment options such as dialysis and transplant can extend life.

• Stay on top of medications and make necessary lifestyle changes.

• Managing both conditions aggressively can increase quality of life.

Test Your Kidney Function Yearly

Because kidney disease symptoms are not always noticeable, yearly testing provides essential feedback for your doctor. “If you have diabetes or hypertension, it’s very good to have a test. If you don’t have any kidney problems, it’s good to test your kidney function once a year. For those with more complications, your doctor may want to test more often.”

It is necessary to prevent any complications or comorbidities from progressing. Take all medications (even over-the-counter) as directed and check your kidney function regularly. You don’t want your kidney disease to progress far enough to require dialysis or transplant.

TAKE ACTION

“Incorporating these kidney disease prevention tips into your lifestyle can seem overwhelming at first, but small changes can make a significant difference over time. Remember, prevention is key. By taking charge of your health, you can help ensure that your kidneys remain healthy for years to come.”

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