The big reason it’s overlooked is because many people with kidney disease don’t even realize it.
The term “chronic kidney disease” means lasting damage to the kidneys that can get worse over time.
“Chronic kidney disease or chronic kidney failure means the kidneys are not doing the functions they are supposed to do. We have two kidneys, and the kidneys are responsible for filtering our body, removing the toxin and waste products, and removing extra fluids from our body,” said Corpus Christi Medical Center Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Amber Kaldas.
This disease usually does not have any symptoms until your kidneys are badly damaged.
“The symptoms of kidney failure at late stages will be fatigue, lack of energy, loss of appetite, sometimes nausea and vomiting, sleep disorders, swelling of feet and ankles. Once again those symptoms happen in late stages of kidney disease,” said Kaldas.
Damage to your kidneys is usually permanent. Although the damage cannot be fixed, you can take steps to keep your kidneys as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
“The population at risk of having chronic kidney failure are patients with diabetes, hypertension, family history of chronic kidney disease, patients who have autoimmune diseases like lupus or other inherited diseases, or history of chronic use of anti inflammatory medications,” said Kaldas.
Living a healthy lifestyle can help prevent diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease or help keep them under control.
“It will help you maintain your kidney functions, and it will provide you the tools that help you prevent further damage to your kidneys, and this way you can save the kidneys or prolong the need for dialysis or any form of treatment,” said Kaldas.
Kidney failure is one of the major health burdens in South Texas, and it is a life-threatening condition. It increases the risk of having a heart attack and cerebrovascular stroke.
Chronic kidney disease, also called chronic kidney failure, describes the gradual loss of kidney function. Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then excreted in your urine. When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes can build up in your body.
Symptoms:
Signs and symptoms of kidney disease are often nonspecific, meaning they can also be caused by other illnesses. Because your kidneys are highly adaptable and able to compensate for lost function, signs and symptoms may not appear until irreversible damage has occurred.
When to see a doctor:
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms of kidney disease.
If you have a medical condition that increases your risk of kidney disease, your doctor is likely to monitor your blood pressure and kidney function with urine and blood tests during regular office visits. Ask your doctor whether these tests are necessary for you.
Causes:
Chronic kidney disease occurs when a disease or condition impairs kidney function, causing kidney damage to worsen over several months or years.
• Recurrent kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis (pie-uh-low-nuh-FRY-tis)
Risk factors:
Factors that may increase your risk of chronic kidney disease include:
• Older age
Complications:
Chronic kidney disease can affect almost every part of your body. Potential complications may include:
• Irreversible damage to your kidneys (end-stage kidney disease), eventually requiring either dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival
Prevention:
To reduce your risk of developing kidney disease: