Home » Health Plus Blog » Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease

26/10/2021

Overview

Chronic kidney disease (or chronic kidney failure) is a gradual loss of kidney function over a period of several months to years. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering out waste products and getting rid of excess fluids from your blood in the form of urine. As the disease advances, it can cause dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes to build up in your body, which can affect the function of all other body systems.

Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms

Some of the common signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease include:

Fatigue and generalised weakness
Increased or decreased urination (than before)
Reduced mental sharpness and alertness
Frequent muscle cramps
Swelling of feet and ankles (oedema)
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Shortness of breath with minimal exertion (due to possible fluid build-up in lungs)
Chest pain (in case of fluid build-up around the heart).

Stages of Chronic Kidney disease

Stage	Description	% of kidney function (GFR)
1	Normal kidney function	90-100%
2	Mild loss of kidney function	89-60%
3a	Mild to moderate loss of kidney function	59-45%
3b	Moderate to severe loss of kidney function	44-30%
4	Severe loss of kidney function	29-15%
5	Kidney failure	Less than 15%

Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease primarily occurs when a condition interferes with kidney function, leading to kidney damage that worsens over a period. Some of the conditions that cause chronic kidney disease include:

Persistent uncontrolled blood sugar levels
High blood pressure that is not managed well
Glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidney's filtering units (glomeruli))
Interstitial nephritis (causes inflammation of the kidney's tubules and surrounding structures)
Inherited kidney diseases such as polycystic kidney disease that causes large cysts to form in the kidney
Long term obstruction of the urinary tract due to conditions like enlarged prostate, kidney stones and some cancers
Vesicoureteral reflux (a condition where urine moves back up into your kidneys)
Repeated kidney infection
Congenital malformations that prevent a normal outflow of urine
Immune diseases such as Lupus and other diseases

Complications of Chronic Kidney Disease

If chronic kidney disease continues to progress, it can lead to kidney failure. The possible complications are:

Fluid retention
High potassium levels (hyperkalaemia)
Anaemia
Stomach ulcers
Heart disease
Increased risk of fracture
Sexual dysfunction
damage to the central nervous system
Poor immunity
Insomnia.

Diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease

Your doctor will check for signs of chronic kidney disease and ask for a thorough history of your symptoms. Additionally, the following tests may also be ordered:

Blood test: To determine whether waste substances and metabolic by-products (such as urea and creatinine) are being filtered out correctly.
Urine test: To find out whether there is either blood or protein in the urine.
Kidney scans: MRI scan, CT scan, or ultrasound is done to check for any blockages in the urine flow and can help determine how advanced the stage of kidney disease is.
Kidney biopsy: To analyse the kidney tissue, a small sample is extracted and examined for cell damage.
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR): To measure how many millilitres (ml) of waste the kidneys can filter each minute.

Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease

While there is no absolute cure available currently for chronic kidney disease, some therapies can help keep symptoms in check, slow the progression and reduce the risk of complications of the disease.

Anaemia is treated using iron supplements
Dietary phosphate regulation
You will be asked to restrict their fluid intake
Proper control of high blood pressure
Skin itching is treated using antihistamines

End-stage treatment:

When kidney function drops to less than 10-15 per cent of normal capacity, diet, medications, and symptomatic treatment are no longer sufficient to manage CKD. Waste and fluid can't be eliminated, and you may need dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Risks of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

There are many factors that can increase your risk of chronic kidney disease. Consider getting tested if you have any of these risk factors:

Obesity
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Smoking
Family history of kidney disease
Abnormal kidney structure
Older age (CKD is more common than those over 60)
Frequent use of medications that can damage the kidneys
Lupus erythematosus
Overexposure to some toxins
Sickle cell disease
Atherosclerosis
Bladder outlet obstruction.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): Prevention

The best course of action for chronic kidney disease is its prevention. Here are some tips that can help:

Manage any chronic condition such as diabetes and hypertension.
Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Exercise regularly can help manage chronic conditions and your weight.
Avoid abusing alcohol and drugs and smoking.
Avoid exposure to heavy metals, toxic fumes, and unnecessary medications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can chronic kidney disease be healed?

At present, there is no cure for chronic kidney disease (CKD). It can be managed so that the symptoms are less severe and stop the disease from escalating. Depending on the stage of the disease, the most appropriate treatment will be given.

Is drinking a lot of water good for your kidneys?

To an extent, yes. Drinking water around 2.5 to 3 litres helps in preventing urinary calculi and improves hydration but for Chronic Kidney patients. No, drinking large amounts of water can cause your kidneys to work too hard to remove the excess waste. This process stimulates the release of certain hormones that make you feel stressed and tired and can worsen kidney disease.

How can chronic kidney disease affect my daily life?

Chronic kidney disease can cause waste products and fluid to build up in your body. This can result in swelling of your ankles, weakness, poor sleep, and shortness of breath. If the disease progresses, the damage to your kidneys can get worse, and they stop working entirely. This can be life-threatening.