Your kidneys are like a cleaning service for your body — one that you literally couldn’t live without. Their job is to remove excess fluid and waste products from your body through your urine. It may not sound glamorous, but it’s crucial in keeping you alive.
While a cleaning service keeps your home clean and tidy, your kidneys keep your body working as it should. They help maintain a stable balance of chemicals in your body, including salt, potassium and acid. They also create certain hormones — including one that stimulates the production of red blood cells.
But if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), your kidneys lose their ability to function over time, severely impacting your health. "If the disease progresses enough, it can lead to kidney failure, which is when 85 - 90% of your kidney function is gone, and your kidneys can’t do their job to keep you alive. Kidney failure requires an ongoing treatment called dialysis or even a kidney transplant to survive", explains Debbie Valsan, DO, Nephrologist at Kidney Care Specialists in Broomall and West Chester, PA.
March is National Kidney Month — a month to honor these hardworking organs and make sure they're functioning as they should to avoid chronic kidney disease. Here's an overview of CKD, including what causes it, what symptoms to look for, and how it’s treated.
The Two Main Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease: Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
"Your kidneys work hard to filter your blood and other fluids. In fact, they filter about 200 quarts of fluid every 24 hours. That's why two major causes of chronic kidney disease are other conditions that are related to your blood — diabetes and high blood pressure," says Dr. Valsan.
Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease
If you have diabetes, your blood sugar is too high. If unmanaged, diabetes can damage parts of your body, such as your heart, nerves, blood vessels, eyes and kidneys.
High Blood Pressure and Chronic Kidney Disease
If you have high blood pressure, the blood pressure that pushes on the walls of your blood vessels is too high. If not controlled, high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke and CKD. On the other hand, CKD can also cause high blood pressure.
Other Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease
Beyond diabetes and high blood pressure, other causes of CKD include kidney and urinary tract abnormalities before birth, autoimmune diseases (like lupus nephritis) and inherited diseases (like polycystic kidney disease). A family history of kidney failure can also put you at a higher risk of developing CKD.
How Do I Know If I Have Chronic Kidney Disease?
CKD doesn’t always present symptoms. That’s why regular check-ups with your healthcare provider are crucial, so they can monitor your overall health.
However, signs of CKD could include:
- Fatigue
- Decreased appetite
- Difficulty concentrating
- Trouble sleeping
- Swollen feet and ankles
- Puffiness around your eyes
- Muscle cramping at night
- Itchy, dry skin
- Frequent urination, particularly at night
To diagnose CKD, your healthcare provider will use blood and/or urine tests to check your kidney function. The earlier you know you have CKD, the sooner you can protect your kidneys from more damage and prevent other problems, like heart disease.
Treating and Managing Chronic Kidney Disease
If your healthcare provider diagnoses you with CKD, it is important to take steps right away to manage it — even if your symptoms are minimal or nonexistent.
Treating and managing CKD includes:
- Monitoring your kidney health with the support of your care team
- Taking medications as prescribed
- Controlling your blood pressure
- Meeting your blood sugar goal (if you have diabetes)
- Developing a meal plan with your provider and sticking to it
- Engaging in regular exercise
- Getting to — and staying at — a healthy weight
- Sleeping 7 to 8 hours a night
- Not smoking
- Coping with stress and depression in healthy ways, such as practicing mindfulness
By taking these steps seriously, you can avoid further damage to your kidneys and avoid kidney failure.
Thank Your Kidneys by Keeping Them Healthy
Your kidneys work day in and day out to remove excess waste from your body. The best way to thank them is by taking care of your body this National Kidney Month...and every month.
By eating healthy, staying active, getting enough sleep, managing chronic conditions, and going to regular healthcare check-ups, you’re setting your kidneys up for the best possible success for doing their job in the long run
Do You Have Questions About Chronic Kidney Disease?
Talk to your Chester County Hospital primary care provider about CKD prevention, diagnosis and treatment.