Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by kidney damage that becomes progressively worse over time. Because damage to the kidneys is not reversible, early detection is vital in helping prevent the damage from worsening. If left undetected, CKD can lead to kidney failure (also called end stage renal disease). At this stage, the kidneys no longer work well enough to sustain life, and the patient will not survive without regular sessions of dialysis, or a kidney transplant. According to the Center for Disease Control’s statistics for 2019, 15% of US adults (37 million people or greater than 1 in 7) were estimated to have CKD, and that most adults (9 in 10) with CKD do not know they have it.
The Kidneys & Kidney Function
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist that are located in the back of your abdomen, just under your ribcage, one on each side of your spine.
These vital organs are responsible for a lot more than many people realize. Most are aware of the kidney’s primary role of cleansing the blood and transforming the waste products into urine, but the kidneys also perform the following functions:
- Regulation of blood pressure
- Control of electrolyte balance
- Secretion of the hormone responsible for red blood cell production
- Collaboration with the lungs in regulating the PH balance of body fluids
- Synthesis of the hormone calcitriol which helps the kidneys maintain blood calcium levels and promotes the formation of bone With chronic kidney disease, all of these processes are compromised resulting in a wide range of negative effects on the body.
Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms develop slowly and can be difficult to differentiate from the symptoms of other illnesses/diseases. As previously mentioned, most people who have CKD do not know it. By the time symptoms are recognized, the damage is usually quite advanced.
Possible signs/symptoms include:
- High blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Puffiness around the eyes
- Swollen ankles, hands, or feet
- Muscle cramps
- Itchy skin
- Frequent urination
- Blood in the urine
- Less energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping
Risk Factors
Risk factors for CKD include:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Cardiovascular disease
- Being over 60 years of age
- Family history of kidney disease
- Race/ethnicity (African Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans are at greater risk)
Your Screening & What to Expect
The good news is that CKD can be detected using a simple finger stick blood test. The two main results we will be looking at are:
Blood creatinine level – As one of the waste products that is normally filtered out by the kidneys and eliminated, elevated levels of creatinine in the blood is a strong indicator for kidney damage/kidney disease.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) – The glomeruli are the tiny filtering units of the kidney, and this result is a strong indicator of how well the kidneys are functioning. It is important to note that what are considered to be normal results vary depending on age, race, gender, and body size/weight. Please be sure to share your results with your primary care physician, and he/she will make the final determination as to whether or not your test results are a cause for concern.
Although recommendations and treatment will vary depending on the severity of the damage, if you receive a CKD diagnosis you can expect your physician to recommend the following as a means of preventing further kidney damage:
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Keep your blood pressure at a healthy level
- Keep your blood sugar/diabetes under control
- Maintain regular checkups
- Take medications as prescribed
- Exercise regularly
- Stop smoking
You should also expect follow-up blood tests to be ordered at regular intervals in order to track any progression of the disease. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, or possess any of the above-mentioned risk factors, please have your screening done as soon as possible.