Treating the cause is key, leading to reduced complications and slowing progression of kidney disease. Treatment is determined by what is causing your kidneys to not function normally. And a small amount of tissue is taken with a needle and sent to the pathologist for further analysis. And in some cases, a kidney biopsy may be necessary. Various imaging tests like ultrasounds or CT scans can be done to help your doctor assess the size, the structure, as well as evaluate the visible damage, inflammation or stones of your kidneys. And this can also help to determine the underlying issues. Urine tests can reveal abnormalities and give clues to the underlying cause of the chronic kidney disease. They may also refer you to a kidney specialist, a nephrologist like myself. If your doctor suspects the onset of chronic kidney disease, they may schedule a variety of other tests. This is why regular checkups with your doctor are important. And the earlier it's detected, the easier it is to treat. But if you're experiencing anything that concerns you, you should make an appointment with your doctor.Įven before any symptoms appear, routine blood work can indicate that you might be in the early stages of chronic kidney disease. So don't automatically interpret this as having kidney disease. However, these are usually in the later stages, but they can also happen in other disorders. Nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, swelling via feet and ankles, dry, itchy skin, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, urinating either too much or too little. And as kidney disease progresses, you may notice the following symptoms. Generally, earlier stages are known as 1 to 3. Often there are no outward signs in the earlier stages of chronic kidney disease, which is grouped into stages 1 through 5. Smoking can also be a contributing factor to chronic kidney disease. There are things that are more under our control: Heavy or long-term use of certain medications, even those that are common over-the-counter. Urinary tract issues and inflammation in different parts of the kidney can also lead to long-term functional decline. But also heart disease and obesity can contribute to the damage that causes kidneys to fail. Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease. Sometimes, other common medical conditions can increase your risk. Defects in the kidney structure can also cause your kidneys to fail, and you have an increased risk as you get older. Your risk is simply higher if you have a family history of certain genetic conditions like polycystic kidney disease or some autoimmune diseases like lupus or IgA nephropathy. Some of them are not things that can be avoided. There are quite a few things that can cause or put you at higher risk for chronic kidney disease. They helped to make hormones to produce red blood cells, and they turn vitamin D into its active form, so it's usable in the body. They remove waste and toxins, excess water from the bloodstream, which is carried out of the body in urine. Our kidneys play many important roles keeping our bodies in balance. Before we get into the disease itself, let's talk a little bit about the kidneys and what they do. And most of those don't know they have it. It's estimated that chronic kidney disease affects about one in seven American adults. Whether you are looking for answers for yourself or for someone you love, we're here to give you the best information available.Ĭhronic kidney disease is a disease characterized by progressive damage and loss of function in the kidneys. What is it? Who gets it? The symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. In this video, we'll cover the basics of chronic kidney disease. I look after patients with kidney disease, either in the early stages, or with more advanced kidney disease considering dialysis and transplantation as treatment options. Andrew Bentall, a kidney doctor at Mayo Clinic.
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