Chronic Kidney Disease is estimated to affect 15% of adults in the United States. Learn more about the best treatments of Chronic Kidney Disease right here

Chronic Kidney Disease is estimated to affect 15% of adults in the United States – that's around 30 million people! Chronic Kidney Disease occurs when one or both kidneys stop functioning properly. If left untreated, Chronic Kidney Disease can affect your health in many different ways and can even cause kidney failure and premature death. Fortunately, if caught early, the symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease can be managed. Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms and treatments of Chronic Kidney Disease. 

What Is Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease is caused by gradual loss of kidney function. Your kidneys are important organs that filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood. Chronic kidney disease can lead to dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes, and waste to build up in your blood.

In the early stages of kidney disease, there might not be any symptoms. Fortunately, if caught early enough, treatment for chronic kidney disease can slow the progression of kidney damage. Unfortunately, people with CKD may not experience symptoms until kidney damage has occurred. This is one reason that people should be screened regularly for certain risk factors of CKD. If you have diabetes or hypertension, speak to your healthcare provider about checking your kidney function. 

What are the Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease?

The signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease vary depending on the stage of the disease. As kidney damage progresses, the symptoms of chronic kidney disease gradually get worse. Because loss of kidney function often leads to a buildup of fluid or body waste, kidney damage can cause:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue and weakness
• Change in urination
• Sleep problems
• Brain fog
• Muscle cramps
• Swelling of lower body
• Itchy skin
• High blood pressure 
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath

Kidneys can make up for lost function, patients with kidney disease might not notice signs and symptoms until damage has occurred. In addition, the signs and symptoms of kidney disease are typically nonspecific and are often mistaken for other illnesses. 

Treatments for Chronic Kidney Disease

Often, chronic kidney disease has no cure; however, depending on the cause, you can treat some types of kidney disease. Treatment for chronic kidney disease typically aims to control the complications and slow the progression of the disease. 

Common treatments used to control the complications of Chronic Kidney Disease include: 

Blood pressure medications

People with kidney disease can experience high blood pressure. To lower blood pressure and to preserve kidney function, you may be prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers. 

Medications to relieve fluid retention

Chronic kidney disease can cause fluid retention, leading to lower body swelling. Diuretics can help rebalance fluids in your body a

and reduce swelling.

Medications to reduce cholesterol levels

Chronic kidney disease often causes high cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of heart disease. Statins are medications that lower cholesterol levels. 

Medications to protect your bones

Many patients are prescribed calcium and vitamin D supplements to help prevent brittle bones and lower their risk of fracture. 

A lower protein diet to minimize waste products in your blood

Lowering your protein intake can reduce the amount of work your kidneys must do. Consult with a registered dietitian to learn ways that you can safely lower your protein intake and eat a healthy diet.

Treatment for end-stage kidney disease

If your kidneys become so damaged that they can't keep up with waste and fluid clearance, this is known as end-stage kidney disease. At that stage, you will likely require dialysis or even a kidney transplant.

Dialysis

Dialysis is a process that removes waste products and extra fluid from your blood. Hemodialysis involves filtering waste and excess fluids from your blood. In contrast, peritoneal dialysis involves inserting a thin tube into the abdomen to fill the abdominal cavity with a dialysis solution to help absorb waste and excess fluids. 

Kidney transplant

A kidney transplant is a process that involves surgically replacing a damaged kidney with a healthy kidney from a donor. After a transplant, recipients will need to take medications for the rest of their life to keep their body from rejecting the new organ. 

Chronic kidney disease is a devastating illness. Fortunately, if caught early, you can slow the progression of kidney disease. If you are experiencing any symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.