What Causes Kidney Disease?

Kidney problems causing chronic kidney disease are a common issue in our society. They affect more than 10% of the general population worldwide and have emerged as one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide.

But what is causing our kidneys to stop working correctly? The answer is not simple as there are a lot of factors that contribute to damage to our kidneys. Even so, we know some diseases can directly affect our kidneys, some of which are the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Diabetes

Each kidney is made of millions of nephrons. Diabetes consists of having high blood sugar levels. An abundance of blood sugar can damage the nephrons in the kidneys, and consequently cause them to not function very well. People with diabetes have a proclivity to developing high blood pressure due to the damage diabetes can do on the small blood vessels in the body.

High blood pressure

The nephrons in the kidneys have a very complex system of blood vessels, and a high volume of blood circulates through them daily. The kidneys are important as they filter all of the blood that goes through them to rid them of waste and excess fluid. Overtime, high blood pressure can cause the arteries around the kidney to constrict and harden. As a result, the arteries are not able to deliver a sufficient amount of blood to the kidneys, which leads to kidney failure.

Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis or ephritis or nephrotic syndrome is a condition where inflammation happens in the tiny filters(glomeri) located in the kidney. The glomeri is responsible for filtering out waste and toxins from the body. Glomerulonephritis has a tendancy to develop into Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

Many conditions can cause glomerulonephritis, including autoimmune diseases, bacterial and viral infetions, medicines, toxins, etc.

Polycystic kidney disease or other inherited kidney diseases

There are also risk factors that lead to people being more susseptible to kidney diseases. If your family has a history of bad kidneys, make routine check ups with your doctor a priority to screen for any early signs of kidney issues.

Polycystic kidney disease

Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited disorder which results in groups of cysts developing inside of the kidneys. Because of the cysts, the kidneys become much larger then normal, which leads to damaging of the kidney tissue. Polycystic kidney disease leads to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

Alport syndrome

Alport syndroe is a disease that directly damages the kidneys. It occurs when there are mutations in the collagen genes. Collagen is a very important protein when it comes to kidney function. People tend to develope hearing problems and/or abnormalities in their eyes.  Like other kidney diseases, it interupts the filtering process in the kidneys, and can eventually lead to kidney failure.

Many Others

There is a plethora of inherited predispostition that are possible with the kidneys. It is important that people who have any predispositions to kidney problems be cautious and see their doctor, getting treatment when appropriate.