Understanding Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is a condition where your kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as effectively as they should. This can lead to waste buildup in your body and cause other health problems.
Medical Emergency
If you are experiencing severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, severe pain, confusion, or excessive bleeding, please call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. This website provides informational content only and is not a substitute for medical advice or emergency services.
What Causes Kidney Disease?
Several conditions can cause kidney disease. The most common causes include:
Diabetes
High blood glucose levels can damage the blood vessels in your kidneys. Over time, this can impair kidney function. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease in the United States.
High Blood Pressure
Hypertension is the second leading cause of kidney disease. Elevated blood pressure can damage blood vessels throughout your body, including those in your kidneys, reducing their ability to function properly.
Other Causes
- Glomerulonephritis: Inflammation of the kidney's filtering units
- Polycystic Kidney Disease: An inherited condition causing cysts to develop in the kidneys
- Prolonged Urinary Tract Obstruction: Including kidney stones
- Recurrent Kidney Infection: Infections can cause scarring
- Certain Medications: Long-term use of some pain medications and other drugs
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
Early kidney disease often has no symptoms. As the disease progresses, you may experience:
- Fatigue and weakness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Poor appetite
- Trouble sleeping
- Muscle cramps, especially at night
- Swollen feet and ankles
- Puffiness around the eyes, especially in the morning
- Dry, itchy skin
- Need to urinate more often, especially at night
- Blood or foam in the urine
- High blood pressure
Stages of Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is classified into five stages based on your glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which measures how well your kidneys filter blood:
| Stage | Description | GFR (mL/min/1.73m²) |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Kidney damage with normal or high GFR | 90 or above |
| Stage 2 | Kidney damage with mild decrease in GFR | 60-89 |
| Stage 3a | Mild to moderate decrease in GFR | 45-59 |
| Stage 3b | Moderate to severe decrease in GFR | 30-44 |
| Stage 4 | Severe decrease in GFR | 15-29 |
| Stage 5 | Kidney failure (ESRD) | Less than 15 |
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is the final stage of chronic kidney disease (Stage 5) where the kidneys function at less than 10-15% of their normal capacity. At this stage, kidneys can no longer keep up with waste and fluid clearance to maintain health.
When you reach ESRD, you will need renal replacement therapy to survive. The two main options are:
- Dialysis: Artificial filtering of the blood to remove waste products and excess fluid
- Kidney Transplant: Surgical placement of a healthy kidney from a donor
Treatment Options
Treatment for kidney disease depends on the stage and underlying cause:
Early-Stage Kidney Disease (Stages 1-3)
- Controlling diabetes and blood pressure
- Medication to reduce proteinuria
- Dietary changes (reducing salt, protein, and potassium)
- Treating underlying causes
- Lifestyle changes (exercise, smoking cessation, weight management)
Advanced Kidney Disease (Stages 4-5)
- Preparing for kidney replacement therapy (dialysis or transplant)
- More restrictive diet and fluid management
- Medications to control complications
- Regular monitoring by a nephrologist
- Discussing treatment preferences and quality of life considerations
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. This content is not reviewed by medical professionals and is simply an aggregation of information found online. This site makes no claim to be a medical expert, professional, or doctor in any way. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical advice about kidney disease and treatment options. In case of emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.
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