• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Call Us (508) 587-0700
  • Patient Forms
  • Request an Appointment
Associates in Nephrology, PC
  • Home
  • Offices
    • Brockton, MA
    • Taunton, MA
  • Kidney Centers
    • Brockton Regional Kidney Center
    • Brockton Dialysis Center
    • Taunton Regional Dialysis Center
  • Our Providers
    • Dr. Allan Lauer
    • Dr. Daniel Bohl
    • Dr. Ian Wu
  • Conditions
    • Chronic Kidney Disease
    • Hypertension
    • Electrolyte Disorders
    • Kidney Stones
    • Glomerulonephritis
    • End-Stage Kidney Disease
    • Kidney Transplant
    • Renal Failure
  • Contact Us

Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease

February 24, 2023

Young African-American man complained of kidney pain

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in seven adults in the U.S.areon the verge of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD).

CKD is a condition in which kidneys are damaged slowly over a prolonged period and become unable to filter the blood the way they should, leading to the build-up of waste products in the body.

Whether you have a kidney problem or are just proactive about your kidneys, the following will give you a basic understanding of how your kidneys work and what chronic kidney disease is.

Kidneys: How Do They Work?

Kidneys are small yet important organs of the body that filter all the blood in your body almost every 30 minutes. Kidneys remove the waste products, toxins, and excess fluid from the body, thereby controlling blood pressure, keeping your bones healthy, stimulating the production of your red blood cells, and regulating the concentration of electrolytes (such as calcium, sodium, phosphorus, and potassium) in the blood.

All these functions of the kidney are critical to the proper functioning of the body and maintaining good health.

What Causes Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs when a body condition or disease damages the kidneys and impairs the ability of the kidneys to remove waste products from the body. This happens over a course of several months or years.

Diseases and conditions that can damage your kidneys and lead to chronic kidney disease are:

  • Diabetes – The high blood sugar level in diabetes slowly damages the kidneys and stops them from filtering the blood efficiently
  • Hypertension – Hypertension causes the blood vessels in your kidneys to become narrow which reduces blood flow to the kidneys and prevents them from working well
  • Interstitial nephritis–Inflammation of the functional units of the kidneys, called nephrons
  • Glomerulonephritis – Inflammation of the tiny filters of kidneys, called glomeruli
  • Prolonged blockage of the urinary tract due to enlarged prostate, kidney stones, and cancer
  • Polycystic kidney disease

What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease?

Symptoms of CKD vary based on how advanced the condition is. In early CKD, many patients have mild or few symptoms. As kidney damage accumulates, the following signs and symptoms may appear:

  • Decreased mental acuity
  • Swelling in the ankles and feet
  • Muscle cramps
  • Dry and itchy skin
  • High blood pressure
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Sleep problems
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Generalized weakness

How is Chronic Kidney Disease Diagnosed?

To reach a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease, your doctor will ask about your personal and family health history, if you have high blood pressure or have taken any medications that might damage your kidneys and ask about your urinary habits.

They may also perform a physical exam, which involves checking for the signs of issues with your heart and blood vessels. You can also expect a neurological exam from your doctor.

Following the initial assessment, your doctor will order some tests and perform procedures, that include:

  • Blood test – Measure the level of urea and creatinine in your blood
  • Urine test – Reveal abnormalities that could lead to CKD and identify the cause of CKD
  • Imaging test – Assess the size and structure of kidneys
  • Kidney biopsy – A procedure in which your doctor takes a sample of your kidney tissues and sendsit to the lab to determine the cause of the kidney problem

Your doctor may use the results of the tests, along with other factors, such as your age and gender, to calculate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) – a parameter that helps measure the level of your kidney function and decide the stage of kidney disease.

Kidney disease has 5 stages depending on the value of GFR.

  • Stage 1: GFR > 90 mL/min, kidneys work normally
  • Stage 2: GFR = 60-89 mL/min, or mild CKD
  • Stage 3A: GFR = 45-59 mL/min or moderate CKD
  • Stage 3B: GFR = 30-44 mL/min, or moderate CKD
  • Stage 4: GFR = 15-29 mL/min, or severe CKD
  • Stage 5: GFR <15 mL/min, or end stage CKD

How is CKD Treated?

Chronic kidney disease has no cure. However, several treatments can control signs and symptoms of kidney disease, reduce complications of the disease, and slow the progression of the disease.

Your doctor may also try to control the underlying cause of the CKD, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

You may be given medications to relieve swelling, treat anemia, lower cholesterol levels, and protect your bones. It is also recommended to eat a low-protein diet to minimize the build-up of waste products in the body.

When CKD reaches its last stage or when the kidney fails completely, dialysis and kidney transplant are required.

Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment in Southeastern Massachusetts

At Associates in Nephrology, we have a team of highly trained and experience kidney specialists who can accurately diagnose your kidney disease and effectively treat it. Our kidney specialists also educate patients on healthy habits, which may include lifestyle and home remedies, they need to prevent kidney disease from happening in the first place.

If you would like to make a consultation with one of our kidney specialists, contact our location near you, or fill out our online contact form now. We look forward to serving you!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment in Southeastern Massachusetts, Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment Near Me, Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment Near You, Kidney Disease treatment in SE Massachusetts, Kidney disease treatment near me, Kidney Disease treatment near you, Kidney disorder treatment in Southeastern Massachusetts, Kidney Disorders in Southeastern Massachusetts

Primary Sidebar

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

Categories

  • General
  • Kidney Health
  • Renal Failure

Tags

artificial kidneys Best food for kidney Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment in Southeastern Massachusetts Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment Near Me Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment Near You citric acid coronavirus covid-19 ectopic kidney exercise hypertension kidney disease Kidney Disease treatment in SE Massachusetts Kidney disease treatment near me Kidney Disease treatment near you Kidney Disorders in Southeastern Massachusetts Kidney Disorders treatment near me Kidney Disorders treatment near you Kidney disorder treatment in Southeastern Massachusetts Kidney doctor near me Kidney Failure Treatment in SE Massachusetts Kidney Failure treatment in Southeastern Massachusetts Kidney Failure Treatment Near Me Kidney Failure treatment near you Kidney specialist in SE Massachusetts kidney specialist near me Kidney Specialist Near You Kidney Specialists in Southeastern Massachusetts Kidney Specialists Near Me Kidney Specialists Near You kidney stones Kidney stones treatment IN Brockton MA Kidney stones treatment in Taunton MA Kidney stones treatment near Me Kidney stones treatment near you nephrologist near me nephrologist near you nephrotic syndrome pregnancy Treatment for Kidney Stones Treatment for Kidney Stones in Greater Boston Treatment for Kidney Stones in Southeastern Massachusetts Treatment for Kidney Stones Near Me Treatment for Kidney Stones Near You worst food for kidney

Footer

  • Request an Appointment

    REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT

    Can’t call us right now? Submit an online request instead.

    Learn More
  • PATIENT EDUCATION

    PATIENT EDUCATION

    Discover more in our interactive patient library.

    Learn More
  • OUR BLOG

    OUR BLOG

    Get helpful tips & the latest news on kidney care.

    Learn More
  • Home
  • Offices
  • Kidney Centers
  • Our Providers
  • Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Request an Appointment
  • Accessibility Statement
  • HIPAA Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
Copyright © · Associates in Nephrology, PC · All Rights Reserved
iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

Our kidney care specialists at Associates in Nephrology specialized training and experience needed to diagnose and treat kidney conditions such as Chronic Kidney Disease, Electrolyte Disorders, End-Stage Kidney Disease, Glomerulonephritis, Hypertension, Kidney Stones, Kidney Transplant, and Renal Failure. Contact us at (508) 587-0700 or request an appointment online to visit our kidney centers.