Chronic kidney disease or CKD is a significant cause of mortality globally. There is an under-recognised epidemic of chronic kidney disease worldwide that requires serious consideration. Chronic kidney disease can cause mortality and morbidity and affects the quality of life. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to control the epidemic of chronic kidney disease worldwide.
Chronic kidney disease is a condition where the kidneys gradually fail to function. The function of your kidneys is to filter the excess water and wastes from your body in the form of urine. But when the kidneys fail to function correctly, fluids, wastes and electrolytes dangerously build up in the body. Chronic kidney disease exhibits very few signs and symptoms in the early stages. Sometimes, no symptoms are visible before the condition becomes severe. Chronic kidney disease treatment usually involves controlling the cause of the kidney disease along with replacing the function of the kidneys, if required. A timely chronic kidney disease diagnosis is essential to prevent it from becoming fatal.
Risk of chronic kidney disease
The risk of chronic kidney disease increases with age. Chronic kidney disease might also run in the family. Therefore, people who have siblings or a parent with CKD are at high risk of developing this ailment. Chronic kidney disease is more common in African-Americans, Asian-Americans and Native Americans.
Major risk factors of chronic kidney disease are as follows:
. Hypertension
Individuals with diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure are more prone to chronic kidney disease. These health conditions should be treated to prevent onset of kidney disease. It is also essential to get the kidneys tested regularly because the early stages of many kidney diseases may not show any symptoms. Early chronic kidney disease diagnosis might prevent the kidneys from getting further damaged.
The following specific measures can be followed to prevent chronic kidney disease:
Consume a healthy diet: The choice of diet can affect health drastically. To keep the kidneys healthy, choose food items that are suitable for all the vital organs and promote heart health. Fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and whole grains are ideal for the body. Food items with excessive salt and sugar and excess fat should be avoided. The daily intake of salt should ideally be less than 2300 mg per day.
Keep your diabetes levels under control. You should check your blood glucose regularly to avoid a spike.
Your ideal blood pressure should be below 140/90. You should maintain this measurement to prevent chronic kidney disease.
You should take all your medicines as prescribed by your health care provider. You should avoid the regular consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen as they can damage your kidneys.
Until now, there has been no cure for chronic kidney disease until now, but you should not panic. There is treatment possible to relieve the kidney disease from getting worse. A timely chronic kidney disease diagnosis helps relieve the symptoms before it is too late. The treatment of chronic kidney disease depends on its stage:
Chronic kidney disease is not curable, but a healthy lifestyle can improve your quality of life and increase your life expectancy. You should quit drinking and smoking and consume healthy food items such as fruits and vegetables. Limit your salt intake to less than 1 teaspoon a day. You should lead an active life and reduce stress and anxiety.
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