Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the gradual loss of the kidneys' ability to filter waste from the blood. It’s often a result of a kidney disease. But did you know CKD could also be a result of other diseases and illnesses? Diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of CKD. Because CKD usually occurs over time, you may not have any symptoms until it's time to start dialysis.
What is CKD?
CKD is the slow break down of the kidneys' ability to filter waste and fluid from the bloodstream.
Kidneys are made up of nephrons, tiny structures that filter waste out of the blood. When a person is diagnosed with a kidney disease or another disease that affects the kidneys (such as diabetes or high blood pressure), the nephrons will become damaged over time and lose their filtering ability.
Kidneys can become scarred or even shrink in size.
What causes CKD?
If you’ve been diagnosed with CKD, that didn't happen suddenly. And, CKD will not get better. There are two common diseases that can lead to CKD: diabetes and high blood pressure.
Diabetes is a disease where the body isn’t producing enough insulin to break down the sugar from the food we eat. The excess sugar (also known as glucose) remains in the bloodstream. High levels of glucose can damage the nephrons in your kidneys. This could lead to a condition called diabetic nephropathy.
Over time, high blood pressure damages blood vessels throughout the body. The high pressure and stress from the blood vessels in the kidneys can damage the nephrons.
What are the symptoms of CKD?
CKD is a slow process. Because CKD occurs over a long period of time (often years), you may not notice any symptoms until there is a significant loss of kidney function. This is why CKD is a silent, but devastating disease.
Because your kidneys will be unable to filter fluid and waste from your blood efficiently, you will have a buildup of toxins in your blood stream.
When patients finally feel the effects of their damaged kidneys, they will experience an overall ill feeling. You may feel tired, have frequent hiccups and feel nauseated. You may vomit, your skin may itch and you may have headaches.
Can I be tested for CKD?
Your doctor can order a urine and blood sample for analysis. Your doctor would look for creatinine and urea nitrogen in your blood. Both are waste products produced by the body. If your blood test indicates either of these two waste products are high, this may be a sign your kidneys aren’t doing their job.
Your doctor may also test to see if your erythropoietin levels are normal by ordering a hemoglobin or hematocrit test. Your doctor may order an MRI or an ultrasound to see if your kidneys have shrunk in size.
If the cause for CKD isn’t clear, your doctor may decide to do a kidney biopsy. This is done under local anesthesia.
How is CKD treated?
CKD is treated by taking care of the underlying cause of the disease. This may slow the disease's progression. If you’ve been diagnosed with a kidney disease, high blood pressure or diabetes, your doctor may have you on medication to help control your illness. Your dietitian may have also placed you on a special diet that restricts sugar, sodium (salt), protein, phosphorus and potassium.
As CKD progresses to the point where you have less than 15 percent of your kidney function, dialysis or a kidney transplant will be needed.
What can I do to prevent CKD?
It’s important to have any illness diagnosed in its early stages. If you’ve been diagnosed with CKD, the condition is irreversible. However, you may be able to slow the progress of the disease through a proper diet, medication (if needed) and exercise.
Ask your doctor to monitor your glucose levels and blood pressure. An early diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension can lead to appropriate treatment before any harm is done to the kidneys. If you’ve already been diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's instructions regarding medication, diet and exercise. Keeping your blood sugar level and blood pressure low is important to prevent more damage not only to your kidneys, but your entire body.
If you would like to see a doctor who specializes in the care of kidneys, called a nephrologist.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the gradual loss of the kidneys' ability to filter waste from the blood. It’s often a result of a kidney disease. But did you know CKD could also be a result of other diseases and illnesses? Diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of CKD. Because CKD usually occurs over time, you may not have any symptoms until it's time to start dialysis.
What is CKD?
CKD is the slow break down of the kidneys' ability to filter waste and fluid from the bloodstream.
Kidneys are made up of nephrons, tiny structures that filter waste out of the blood. When a person is diagnosed with a kidney disease or another disease that affects the kidneys (such as diabetes or high blood pressure), the nephrons will become damaged over time and lose their filtering ability.
Kidneys can become scarred or even shrink in size.
What causes CKD?
If you’ve been diagnosed with CKD, that didn't happen suddenly. And, CKD will not get better. There are two common diseases that can lead to CKD: diabetes and high blood pressure.
Diabetes is a disease where the body isn’t producing enough insulin to break down the sugar from the food we eat. The excess sugar (also known as glucose) remains in the bloodstream. High levels of glucose can damage the nephrons in your kidneys. This could lead to a condition called diabetic nephropathy.
Over time, high blood pressure damages blood vessels throughout the body. The high pressure and stress from the blood vessels in the kidneys can damage the nephrons.
What are the symptoms of CKD?
CKD is a slow process. Because CKD occurs over a long period of time (often years), you may not notice any symptoms until there is a significant loss of kidney function. This is why CKD is a silent, but devastating disease.
Because your kidneys will be unable to filter fluid and waste from your blood efficiently, you will have a buildup of toxins in your blood stream.
When patients finally feel the effects of their damaged kidneys, they will experience an overall ill feeling. You may feel tired, have frequent hiccups and feel nauseated. You may vomit, your skin may itch and you may have headaches.
Can I be tested for CKD?
Your doctor can order a urine and blood sample for analysis. Your doctor would look for creatinine and urea nitrogen in your blood. Both are waste products produced by the body. If your blood test indicates either of these two waste products are high, this may be a sign your kidneys aren’t doing their job.
Your doctor may also test to see if your erythropoietin levels are normal by ordering a hemoglobin or hematocrit test. Your doctor may order an MRI or an ultrasound to see if your kidneys have shrunk in size.
If the cause for CKD isn’t clear, your doctor may decide to do a kidney biopsy. This is done under local anesthesia.
How is CKD treated?
CKD is treated by taking care of the underlying cause of the disease. This may slow the disease's progression. If you’ve been diagnosed with a kidney disease, high blood pressure or diabetes, your doctor may have you on medication to help control your illness. Your dietitian may have also placed you on a special diet that restricts sugar, sodium (salt), protein, phosphorus and potassium.
As CKD progresses to the point where you have less than 15 percent of your kidney function, dialysis or a kidney transplant will be needed.
What can I do to prevent CKD?
It’s important to have any illness diagnosed in its early stages. If you’ve been diagnosed with CKD, the condition is irreversible. However, you may be able to slow the progress of the disease through a proper diet, medication (if needed) and exercise.
Ask your doctor to monitor your glucose levels and blood pressure. An early diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension can lead to appropriate treatment before any harm is done to the kidneys. If you’ve already been diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's instructions regarding medication, diet and exercise. Keeping your blood sugar level and blood pressure low is important to prevent more damage not only to your kidneys, but your entire body.
If you would like to see a doctor who specializes in the care of kidneys, called a nephrologist.
Can you overwork your kidneys by drinking too much water?
Kidney Function. ... If you drink too much water too quickly, the blood becomes diluted and the kidneys cannot filter it fast enough to maintain the proper sodium balance. This condition is called hyponatremia and causes symptoms including fatigue, nausea, vomiting and frequent urination.
How much water is too much to drink in an hour?
Your kidneys can eliminate about 5.3-7.4 gallons (20-28 liters) of water a day, but they can't get rid of more than 27-33 ounces (0.8-1.0 liters) per hour. Therefore, in order to avoid hyponatremia symptoms, you should not drink more than 27-33 ounces (0.8-1.0 liters) of water per hour, on average.
Can you improve your GFR rate?
The glomerular filtration rate (GFR), calculated using the creatinine blood test, is a measure of how well your kidneys filter your blood. ... If related to CKD, changes to your diet may help improve or slow decline of your GFR and lessen your risk of kidney failure.
Do you stop urinating when on dialysis?
As a result many dialysis patients produce very small amounts of urine. However, dialysis does not prevent someone from urinating normally; it only reduces the total urine output, so that he or she may only need to urinate once a day, which is not dangerous.
What is the best thing to drink for your kidneys?
Here's what the latest research says about the four best drinks for kidney health:
- Wine. Yes, you read that correctly. ...
- Cranberry Juice. This tart red drink is good for both your urinary tract and kidney health. ...
- Lemon- and Lime-based Citrus Juices. ...
- Water.
How do you detox your kidneys?
Part 1 Detoxifying Your Diet
- Drink lots and lots of water. The most important thing for a regular kidney detox is to have a high intake of natural, clean water. ...
- Fill up on fruit. ...
- Don't forget the berries! ...
- Incorporate more barley into your diet. ...
- Keep away from things like alcohol, caffeine, and chocolate. ...
- Avoid protein.
Can the kidneys start working again?
It removes waste and extra water from the blood and can be life-saving. After several weeks the kidneys may begin to work again and dialysis can be stopped. Sometimes chronic (long-lasting) kidney failure develops, which requires long-term dialysis or a kidney transplant.
What is the best drink to flush your kidneys?
The following 5 kidney-cleansing drinks may provide that extra cleansing boost.
- Cranberry Juice. Cranberry juice has been touted for years as support for the urinary tract. ...
- Beet Juice. Beets and beet juice contain betaine, a very beneficial phytochemical. ...
- Lemon Juice. ...
- Juice Cleanses. ...
- Homemade Kidney Cleanse Beverage.
Are bananas good for the kidneys?
Damaged kidneys allow potassium to build up in the blood, causing serious heart problems. Potassium is found in many fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, potatoes, avocados, and melons.
How much water is too much to drink in an hour?
Your kidneys can eliminate about 5.3-7.4 gallons (20-28 liters) of water a day, but they can't get rid of more than 27-33 ounces (0.8-1.0 liters) per hour. Therefore, in order to avoid hyponatremia symptoms, you should not drink more than 27-33 ounces (0.8-1.0 liters) of water per hour, on average.
How long a person can survive on dialysis?
Life expectancy on dialysis can vary depending on your other medical conditions and how well you follow your treatment plan. Average life expectancy on dialysis is 5-10 years, however, many patients have lived well on dialysis for 20 or even 30 years.
Can kidneys heal on their own?
“If tubules are damaged they can be repaired but if the damage is severe enough the nephron may be destroyed. Unfortunately the kidney can regenerate and recover, but the kidney cannot make new nephrons, and in that context, its regeneration is limited.”
Which fruit is good for kidney?
If you don't have kidney disease and just want to eat a healthy diet for your kidneys, be sure to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds to get a balance of both potassium-rich and moderate-potassium containing foods.
Are bananas good for the kidneys?
Damaged kidneys allow potassium to build up in the blood, causing serious heart problems. Potassium is found in many fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, potatoes, avocados, and melons.
What is the most common cause of death in dialysis patients?
Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on long-term dialysis therapy have very high mortality due to predominantly cardiovascular causes. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the single most common form of death in dialysis patients, accounting for 20% to 30% of all deaths in this cohort.
How can you tell if your kidneys are not working properly?
Your doctor can do very simple tests to check for kidney disease:
- Measure the level of serum creatinine in your blood to estimate your glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
- Measure the level of protein in your urine (increased levels of protein show your kidneys are not working right)
- Check your blood pressure.
How can I improve my kidney function?
Five simple lifestyle steps can help you keep them in good shape.
- Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluid will help your kidneys function properly. ...
- Eat healthily. Video: how to take care of your kidneys. ...
- Watch your blood pressure. ...
- Don't smoke or drink too much alcohol. ...
- Keep slim to help your kidneys.
No comments:
Post a Comment