Chronic kidney disease, also called chronic kidney failure, involves a gradual loss of kidney function. The kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from the blood, which is then eliminated in the urine. Advanced chronic kidney disease can cause dangerous levels of fluids, electrolytes, and waste to build up in the body.
In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, you may have few signs or symptoms, and you won't realize you have kidney disease until the condition is advanced.
Treatment of chronic kidney disease focuses on slowing the progression of kidney damage, usually by controlling the cause. But even controlling the cause may not prevent kidney damage from progressing. Chronic kidney disease can progress to end-stage renal failure, which is fatal without artificial filtering (dialysis) or a kidney transplant.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease develop over time if kidney damage progresses slowly. Loss of kidney function can cause a buildup of body fluids or waste or electrolyte problems. Depending on how severe it is, loss of kidney function can cause:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue and weakness
- Sleeping problems
- Pee more or less
- Decreased mental acuity
- Muscle cramps
- Swelling of feet and ankles
- Dry itchy skin
- High blood pressure (hypertension) that is difficult to control
- Difficulty breathing, if fluid builds up in the lungs
- Chest pain, if fluid builds up around the lining of the heart
Signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease develop over time if kidney damage progresses slowly. Loss of kidney function can cause a buildup of body fluids or waste or electrolyte problems. Depending on how severe it is, loss of kidney function can cause:
Causes
Chronic kidney disease occurs when a disease or condition affects kidney function, causing kidney damage to worsen over several months or years. Diseases and conditions that cause chronic kidney disease include:
- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Glomerulonephritis
- Interstitial nephritis
- Polycystic kidney disease or other hereditary kidney diseases
- Long-term obstruction of the urinary tract, from conditions such as an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, and some types of cancer
- Reflux vesicoureteral
- Recurring kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis
Prevention
To reduce your risk of developing kidney disease, pay attention to the following:
Follow the directions on over-the-counter medications. When using over-the-counter pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), follow package directions. Taking too many pain relievers for a long time could lead to kidney damage.
Maintain a healthy weight. If you're at a healthy weight, maintain it by being physically active most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, talk to your doctor about strategies for healthy weight loss.
Do not smoke. Cigarette smoking can damage your kidneys and make existing kidney damage worse. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about strategies to quit smoking. Support groups, counseling, and medication can help you quit.
Manage your medical conditions with the help of your doctor. If you have diseases or conditions that increase your risk of kidney disease, work with your doctor to manage them. Ask your doctor about tests to look for signs of kidney damage.
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of kidney disease. Early detection could help prevent kidney disease from progressing to kidney failure.
If you have a medical condition that increases your risk of kidney disease, your doctor may monitor your blood pressure and kidney function with blood and urine tests during office visits. Ask your doctor if these tests are necessary for you.
References: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354521
