March 14, 2024 World Kidney Day

Chronic Kidney Disease
Your kidneys, each just the size of a computer mouse, filter all the blood in your body every 30 minutes. They work hard to remove wastes, toxins, and excess fluid. They also help control blood pressure, stimulate production of red blood cells, keep your bones healthy, and regulate blood chemicals that are essential to life.
Kidneys that function properly are critical for maintaining good health, more than one in seven American adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD).
CKD is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as they should. Because of this, excess fluid and waste from blood remain in the body and may cause other health problems, such as heart disease and stroke.
Some other health consequences of CKD include:
-Anemia or low number of red blood cells
-Increased occurrence of infections
-Low calcium levels, high potassium levels, and high phosphorus levels in the blood
-Depression or lower quality of life
CKD has varying levels of seriousness. It usually gets worse over time though treatment has ben shown to slow progression. If left untreated, CKD can progress to kidney failure and early cardiovascular disease. When the kidneys stop working, dialysis or kidney transplant is needed for survival. Kidney failure treated with dialysis or kidney transplant is called end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Not all patients with kidney disease progress to kidney failure. To help prevent CKD and lower the risk for kidney failure, control risk factors for CKD, get tested yearly, make lifestyle changes, take medication as needed, and see your health care provider regularly.
Risk Factors:
-Diabetes
-High Blood Pressure
-Heart Disease
-Family history of CKD
-Obesity
Symptoms:
People with CKD may not feel ill or notice any symptoms. The only way to find out for sure if you have CKD is through specific blood and urine tests. These tests include measurement of both the creatinine level in the blood and protein in the urine.