Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease

What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease is a slow progressive loss of kidney function over a long time of several years. The patient can later have a permanent kidney failure.

It is also known as chronic renal failure, chronic renal disease, or chronic kidney failure. The disease is very common and widespread than most people think. It often remains undetected and undiagnosed until the disease is well advanced.

When the kidney problem advances and the organ's function is severely disturbed, dangerous levels of waste and fluids start building rapidly in your body. The focus of the treatment is to stop or slow down the progression of the disease. This is usually done by controlling the underlying cause of the kidney problem.

Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms

Unlike acute kidney failure, chronic kidney disease is a slow and gradually progressive disease. Even if your one kidney stops working, the other continues the functions normally and takes care of your body. Only after the disease is advanced significantly and the condition has become severe, the signs and symptoms are noticeable. By this time a lot of damage has already been done which is irreversible.

It is important for people who are at high risk of developing the disease to check their kidney functions regularly. Early detection of any problem in your kidneys can significantly help prevent serious kidney damage.

Common signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease are:

• Anemia
• Decreased urine flow
• Blood in urine
• Decreased alertness
• Edema
• Dark colored urine
• Itchiness
• Frequent urination
• Loss of appetite
• Cramps in muscles
• Nausea and vomiting
• Erectile dysfunction
• Protein leakage in urine
• Unexplained headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Changes in bodyweight

What are the Risk factors for chronic kidney disease?

The following conditions or situations are considered to increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease:

• A family history of kidney diseases
• It is much more common among people over the age of 60
• Sickle cell disease
• Certain drugs
• Hypertension (increased blood pressure): High blood pressure can damage your blood vessels of the kidneys, heart, and your brain. The kidneys contain lots of blood vessels. Any blood vessel disease is dangerous to your kidneys.
• Glomerulonephritis
• bladder obstruction
• congenital kidney disease
• lupus erythematosis
• high cholesterol
• diabetes – type and type 2
• autoimmune disease: Autoimmune diseases such as lupus can damage blood vessels and can make antibodies work against your kidney tissues
• bladder cancer
• kidney stones
• vesicoureteral reflux (it occurs when urine flows back into your kidney)
• scleroderma

The most common causes and risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are high blood pressure and diabetes. You should consult your doctor if you are at high risk so an early screening of the disease can be done in order to prevent the progression of the disease.