Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease  Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment 

Dr.Umesh Gupta, 4 mins read

Chronic kidney disease, or chronic kidney failure, involves a gradual loss of kidney function over some time. The kidneys serve the human body as a purifier as it filters out all the excess and harmful wastes and fluids from the blood, which then pass out from the body through the urine. Chronic kidney disease at an advanced stage can lead to the build-up of harmful amounts of fluid, electrolytes, and wastes in the body.

In its early stages, an individual who has chronic kidney disease may not have any signs or may experience such mild symptoms that they may well not realize they have chronic kidney disease. However, the signs will become more apparent as and when the condition advances. 

Treatment for chronic kidney disease is directed at halting the progress of kidney damage, usually by identifying and controlling the root cause. However, in many cases, even controlling the cause doesn’t do much to stop keep kidney damage from progressing further. Chronic kidney disease can also progress into end-stage kidney failure, which can be fatal, without artificial filtration, called dialysis, or a kidney transplant.

Symptoms of chronic kidney disease 

The signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease will become more noticeable and severe over time as and when the kidney damage progresses. Failing kidney function can lead to a buildup of unwanted fluids or wastes, and even cause electrolyte problems. Depending on how severe the kidney damage is and how far advanced the stage is, loss of kidney function can lead to vomiting, nausea, excess fatigue, weakness, sleeping problems, inability to think, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, urinating less or more than normal, dry and itchy skin, swelling on the feet and ankles, hypertension or high blood pressure that is not coming under control, shortness of breath if any fluid has accumulated in the lungs and chest pain, in case the fluids have built up around the lining of the heart. 

Signs and symptoms of kidney disease can often be confused with those other illnesses. The kidneys are robust organs that keep running even while losing their function, so patients don’t see significant symptoms till the damage has gone very far ahead. 

Causes of kidney disease 

Chronic kidney disease begins to set in when a disease or some other condition causes loss of normal kidney function, which leads to kidney damage that worsens gradually over many months or years. 

You should know about the diseases and conditions that have some relation to causing chronic kidney disease, as you can take extra precautions if you have any of these diseases and learn how to prevent kidney failure in the future. The diseases include both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, interstitial nephritis or glomerulonephritis, continued obstruction in the urinary tract, polycystic kidney disease or other kidney diseases, vesicoureteric reflux (when urine is sent back into your kidneys and recurring kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis. 

Other factors that can increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease include cardiovascular diseases, smoking, obesity, a family history of kidney disease, old age, using medication that damages the kidneys as a side effect, and abnormal kidney structure. 

How to prevent kidney failure 

Visit a kidney specialist if you’re concerned about your chances of developing kidney disease in the future. After conducting some tests and checking up on your health and family history; the doctor will suggest ways you can reduce the risk of developing kidney disease and tell you how to improve kidney function if you are indeed at risk. The doctor will also inform you about the types of kidney diseases and what treatment is suited for each. 

A doctor may choose to review any prescribed over-the-counter medications you are using as nonprescription pain relievers like Diclofenac or Ibuprofin can cause kidney damage if used in excess and for a continuous period. You must ensure you read the instructions on the package inserts of these medications and see if they can lead to kidney damage.

Maintaining healthy body weight and regular exercise is a must to reduce the risk of diseases and kidney health. If you are at a healthy weight, maintain it by doing physical activity 5 days a week and if you need to lose some weight, get in touch with a nutritionist and chart out a course for healthy weight loss.

If you smoke, stop smoking cigarettes. Smoking can damage the kidneys and make any existing kidney damage even worse. If you wish to quit smoking, talk to a healthcare provider who can help you strategize an optimal way to quit, this may include some counseling and some withdrawal medication to help you stop smoking for good. 

If you have any medical conditions, manage them with your doctor's advice, especially if you have diseases or conditions that increase the risk of developing kidney disease. Make sure to look out for signs and symptoms, do periodic tests, and take the Nephrologist’s opinion.

Also, Read: How to Prevent Kidney Failure?