The kidneys are bean-shaped organs about the size of a fist located in the back of the abdomen, just under the ribcage, on each side of the spine. The kidneys function to remove excess fluids and waste from the body.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs when the kidneys are damaged and are unable to filter blood properly.
Chronic kidney disease cannot be cured, and treatment involves steps to prevent further damage to the kidneys, such as:
- Diet changes
- The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan, recommended by the National Kidney Foundation and approved by The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, The American Heart Association, and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, is considered a heart-healthy diet for people who have kidney disease
- Limiting the amount of potassium in the diet
- Taking medicines as prescribed
- Maintaining a healthy weight or lose weight if you are overweight
- Controlling blood pressure
- Keeping blood glucose in check, in patients with diabetes
- Getting regular exercise
- Getting adequate sleep
- Not smoking
- Managing stress and depression
If kidney disease worsens, treatment options may include:
- Dialysis
- Organ transplantation
What Are Symptoms of Kidney Disease?
Kidney disease may not have any symptoms in the early stages. As it progresses, fluid retention and swelling (edema) may occur, usually in the legs, feet, or ankles, and sometimes in the hands or face.
Symptoms of advanced kidney disease may include:
- Itching or numbness
- Headaches
- Dry skin
- Itching or numbness
- Chest pain
- Itching or numbness
- Increased or decreased urination
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Shortness of breath
- Sleep problems
- Trouble concentrating
What Causes Kidney Disease?
Common causes of chronic kidney disease include:
Other causes of kidney disease include:
- Polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder that causes cysts to form in the kidneys
- Infection
- Drugs that are toxic to the kidneys (nephrotoxic)
- Alcohol
- Pain medicines
- Antibiotics
- Laxatives used for cleaning the bowel (such as those used to prep for a colonoscopy)
- Contrast dye (used in some diagnostic tests such as MRIs)
- Illegal street drugs
- Lupus (lupus nephritis is the name for kidney disease caused by lupus)
- Renal artery stenosis
- IgA glomerulonephritis
- Autoimmune conditions, such as Anti-GBM (Goodpasture's) disease
- Heavy metal poisoning, such as lead poisoning
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome in children
- IgA vasculitis
- Rare genetic conditions, such as Alport syndrome
A family history of kidney failure is a risk factor for developing kidney disease.
How Is Kidney Disease Diagnosed?
People who have risk factors for developing kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and a family history of kidney failure, should have kidney function checked regularly since early kidney disease often has no symptoms.
Tests used to diagnose kidney disease include:
- Blood test: glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
- Urine test to check for albumin, a protein that can pass into the urine when the kidneys are damaged
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https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd
https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/