Prayer Requests
Patient Log-in
866-412-6503
  • OUR DESIGN
    • Our Design for Care
    • Transformational Relationships
    • Whole-Person Care
    • Coordinated Services
    • Access to Care
  • CARE SERVICES
    • Our Care Services
    • Primary Care Clinics
    • Well+Being Assessments
    • Care Navigation
    • Health & Nutritional Coaching
    • Executive Exams
    • Concierge Care
  • PATIENT RESOURCES
    • Patient Portals
    • Health Education
    • FAQs
    • HIPAA Compliance
  • CAREERS
  • ABOUT
    • About HBD
    • Mission & Vision
    • Our Story
    • Leadership
    • Prayer Requests
    • Contact


Chronic Kidney Disease

Two Main Causes and One Important Step You Can Take to Treat It

Chronic Disease, Men's Health, Patient Education, Women's Health


Kidneys are multi-tasking, complex, vital organs. Their main function is to filter waste out of your blood. They also remove extra fluid from your blood - which becomes urine, and they control blood pressure. Kidneys help make red blood cells, too. Plus, they regulate electrolytes and activate vitamin D.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), also called chronic kidney failure, is the gradual loss of kidney function. When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes build up in your body. Chronic kidney disease can progress to end-stage kidney failure (aka: end-stage renal disease (ESRD)), which is fatal without artificial filtering (dialysis) or a kidney transplant.

However, if your kidneys stop working suddenly, you have what doctors call acute kidney failure (or acute renal failure). It can happen over just a few hours or days.

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of kidney disease are often generalized and nonspecific, meaning they can also be caused by other illnesses. Diagnosable signs and symptoms may not appear until irreversible damage has occurred. 30 million American adults have CKD and millions of others are at increased risk.

The Two Main Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease are Diabetes and High Blood Pressure

The two main causes of Chronic Kidney Disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. These two diagnoses are responsible for up to two-thirds of the cases. Uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure) becomes a vicious cycle, because hypertension causes CKD and CKD causes hypertension.


One Critical Step You Can Take to Treat Kidney Disease Is to Control Your Blood Pressure.


Other Factors That Increase Risk of CKD

  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Obesity
  • Being African, Asian, or Native American
  • Abnormal kidney structure
  • Smoking
  • Older age
  • Family history of kidney disease

CKD Affects Every Part of Your Body

Complications of CKD May Include:
  • Fluid retention, which could lead to swelling in your arms and legs, high blood pressure, or fluid in your lungs (pulmonary edema)
  • A sudden rise in potassium levels in your blood, which could impair your heart's ability to function and may be life-threatening
  • Heart and blood vessel disease
  • Weak bones and an increased risk of bone fractures
  • Irreversible damage to kidneys (end-stage kidney disease), eventually requiring either dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival
  • Decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, or reduced fertility
  • Damage to your central nervous system, which can cause difficulty concentrating, personality changes, or seizures
  • Decreased immune response, which makes you more vulnerable to infection
  • Pericarditis, an inflammation of the saclike membrane that envelops your heart
  • Pregnancy complications that carry risks for the mother and the developing fetus
  • Anemia

There are tests your doctor can perform to determine your stage of kidney disease. The earlier kidney disease is detected, the better the chance of slowing or stopping its progression.



Sources:
  • https://www.kidney.org
  • https://www.mayoclinic.org
  • https://www.niddk.nih.gov
  • https://www.webmd.com
You Might Also Like:
Is Your Blood Pressure Value in the Normal Range?
The Two Leading Causes of Death for Men

SORT BY TOPIC

  • Chronic Disease
  • Diabetes
  • Men’s Health
  • Nutrition
  • Prevention
  • Safety
  • Women’s Health

RECENT CONTENT

Post thumb
Alcohol and Your Heart
15 Mar 2023
Post thumb
For Parents: Bicycle, Inline Skating, Skateboard, and Scooter Safety
15 Feb 2023
Post thumb
Carrying More Weight Longer Increases Colorectal Cancer Risk
15 Feb 2023

SEARCH

Our Design

Care Services

Access to Care

Contact

Who We Are

Leadership

Mission & Vision

Careers

Patient Portal

Health Education

HIPAA Compliance

Physician Departures

At Health by Design, we define true Well+Being™ as a healthy body, sound mind, and hope-filled spirit that inspires patients to live more productive and rewarding lives.
Copyright © 2019 Health by Design. All rights reserved.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect data via analytics are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on the website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
X
X