KidneyDiseaseFactSheet.com is brought to you by AllNetHealth.com and is intended to provide basic information that you can use to make informed decisions about important health issues affecting you or your loved ones. We hope that you’ll find this information about Kidney Disease helpful and that you’ll seek professional medical advice to address any specific symptoms you might have related to this matter.

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What is kidney disease?

What causes kidney disease?

Am I at risk for kidney disease?

What are the signs of kidney disease?

How is kidney disease diagnosed?

Is there treatment for kidney disease?

Where can I buy a home test kit for kidney disease?

What is kidney disease? (top)

Kidney disease results from damage to the nephrons, the tiny structures inside your kidneys that filter blood.

Usually the damage occurs very gradually over years. It happens in both kidneys. There aren't any obvious symptoms, so you don't know its happening.

What causes kidney disease? (top)

The common causes of kidney disease are;

• Diabetes: In diabetes, the body doesn't use glucose (sugar) very well. The glucose stays in your blood and acts like a poison. If you have diabetes, you can prevent kidney disease by controlling your blood sugar levels.

• High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels in your kidneys. When this happens your kidneys cannot filter wastes from your blood very well. If you have high blood pressure (hypertension) be sure to take any medicines your doctor prescribes.

• Heredity: Some kidney diseases result from hereditary factors, and can run in families. If your family has a history of any kind of kidney problems, you may be at risk for kidney disease and should talk to your doctor.

Am I at risk for kidney disease? (top)

If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, you are at risk for kidney disease. Now is the time to talk to your doctor or health care professional about getting tested. It could save your life.

• Do you have diabetes (problems with your blood sugar)?
• Do you have high blood pressure?
• Did your mother, father, sister, or brother ever have kidney failure? Kidney disease runs in families.

What are the signs of kidney disease? (top)

People in the early stages of kidney disease usually do not feel sick at all.

If your kidney disease gets worse, you may need to urinate more often or less often. You may feel tired or itchy. You may lose your appetite or experience nausea and vomiting. Your hands or feet may swell or feel numb. You may get drowsy or have trouble concentrating. Your skin may darken. You may have muscle cramps.

How is kidney disease diagnosed? (top)

Early kidney disease is a silent problem, like high blood pressure, and does not have any symptoms. You may have it, but not know it, because you don't feel sick.

To detect the disease doctors can do very simple tests that include:

• Measure the level of serum creatinine in your blood to estimate your glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
• Measure the level of protein in your urine (increased levels of protein show your kidneys are not working right)
• Checking your blood pressure

Is there treatment for kidney disease? (top)

Unfortunately, chronic kidney disease often cannot be cured. But if you are in the early stages of a kidney disease, you may be able to make your kidneys last longer by taking certain steps. You will also want to be sure that risks for heart attack and stroke are minimized, since CKD patients are susceptible to these problems.

• If you have diabetes, watch your blood glucose closely to keep it under control. Consult your doctor for the latest in treatment.
• Avoid pain pills that may make your kidney disease worse. Check with your doctor before taking any medicine.

Click here to buy home test kits for kidney disease.

 

 

 

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