Chronic Kidney Disease: Everything to know about it

The priority should always be given to your body rather than the worldly affairs. Every organ in your body plays an essential role. Living an unhealthy lifestyle can hamper the functioning of your body’s organs. The symptoms are not detected at an early stage but later on, you can face severe effects of such a situation. The important organ which is highly neglected by humans is the kidney. The issues with the kidneys can land you in big troubles than your imagination. They are highly responsible for filtering the waste and keeping a balance of fluid and electrolytes. The most common issue that comes with the functioning of the kidney is its failure. When the kidneys start to fail, the effects can hamper the overall functioning of the body. This can further lead to chronic kidney disease. It is essential to understand everything related to this disease so that the disease can be treated at the right time. Thus, keep reading to understand better.

Chronic Kidney Disease: Everything to know about it | Khosla Stone Kidney & Surgical Centre

Understanding chronic kidney disease

CKD or chronic kidney disease is known to be a slow and progressive condition that results in the dysfunction of the kidney. If there is an issue that one kidney has stopped working even then there is a possibility of normal functioning. It is essential to know that deterioration of the kidney can lead to its dysfunction and if the situation gets worse then it can lead to kidney failure. Chronic kidney disease is not detectable at an early stage, which is why people land up in big troubles. The reason behind the symptoms of it is not known during the early stages. And by the time, the symptoms are understandable or recognized by a person, there is a possibility of an advanced stage. Moreover, any damage to the kidney is not reversible.

What are the symptoms of chronic kidney disease?

There are a couple of symptoms of chronic kidney disease which should be known by all, such as:

Hypertension or high blood pressure
Fatigue or tiredness
Anemia
Bloody urine
Edema or facing swollen ankles, feet, etc.
Urine output gets minimized
Dark urine
Appetite loss
Itchy skin
Decreased mental alertness
Frequent urination

What are the stages of chronic kidney disease?

There is the use of glomerular filtration rate which is effective in understanding the advancement of chronic kidney disease. It is beneficial in showing whether the kidney is able to filter the waste or not. Also, GFR depends on the size, sex, or age of a person. Also, GFR can be determined by understanding creatinine levels in a person’s blood. Any kind of changes in it can depict that there is a problem with the kidneys. Further, a change in the GFR leads to the next step which is to classify chronic kidney disease into various stages. Thus, the below-mentioned points will help you understand the chronic kidney disease stages:

Stage 1

The initial stage of chronic kidney disease involves a GFR of around 90 ml per minute per 1.73 meters squared. This entire situation depicts normal functioning of the kidney but with a slight indication of kidney damage. The common sign which shows some kidney damage under this stage is physical damage or the urine of a person involves protein. Stage 2 Stage 2 of chronic kidney disease has a low GFR as compared to stage 1. It is around 60-89 ml/min and is measured per 1.73 meters squared. Under this stage, the kidney shows normal functioning but there is some kidney damage involved. Through medications prescribed by a doctor, the kidney can be protected.

Stage 3

With increasing stages, the GFR of a person decreases. In this stage, the GFR is around 30-59 ml per minute per 1.73 meters squared. This shows that there is some damage to the kidneys and they are not working well. Also, stage 3 is divided into subcategories, such as stage 3 a and stage 3 b. There are no major symptoms of this stage but some people can face swelling in their hands or feet, lower back pain, bone disease, anemia, frequent urination, etc. Also, it is essential to note that people facing stage 1 to stage 3 chronic kidney disease can slow down kidney damage by following measures such as maintaining their diabetes, eating healthy food, managing their weight, quitting smoking, managing their blood pressure, being active 5 days every week, etc.

Stage 4

Under this stage, the GFR of a person is around 15-29 ml per minute and per 1.73 meters squared. During this stage, the kidneys get damaged to some or complete extent. However, this is a serious stage and can lead to kidney failure in no time. A person at this stage of chronic kidney disease experiences symptoms like frequent urination, swollen hands, and feet, and much more. Also, there are other complications involved like bone disease, anemia, and much more. Being at the stage 4 of chronic kidney disease requires medical assistance.

Stage 5

Chronic kidney disease is considered severe at stage 5. The GFR during this stage is around 15 ml per minute and 1.73 meters squared. At this stage, it is either the end of kidney functioning or a person is about to face it. The common symptoms that can be experienced at this stage involve itching, vomiting, back pain, nausea, frequent urination, minimum urine output, sleep deprivation, difficulty breathing, and much more.

What are the common treatments for chronic kidney disease?

Here are the common treatment types which can be opted for chronic kidney disease, such as:

Early diagnosis

Getting a chronic kidney disease diagnosis is highly essential to understand the tagged issues with it. The most common diagnosis process involves urine tests, kidney scans, kidney biopsy, EGFR, along with chest X-ray. All of these processes or diagnoses can help in understanding at what stage you are and how you can manage the damage to the kidneys.

Diet

While you are treating kidney disease or any damage related to it, it is essential to ponder upon your diet. An unwanted pressure can be created on the kidneys due to excessive protein consumption. This is why its restriction can be helpful. Also, make some dietary changes in your regime or seek help from a dietician. Overall, it will aid you in quick recovery and managing your kidney disease.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

It is essential to ditch nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs when a person is facing chronic kidney disease. These drugs involve antibiotics, ibuprofen, and much more. Use of these drugs cannot be metabolized by the kidneys.

Kidney dialysis

When a person is facing extreme chronic kidney disease then there can be the requirement of kidney dialysis. This is a mechanical removal of waste products. Also, it is effective in removing excessive fluid from the human blood. This is done when the kidney fails to do these tasks on its own. There are mainly two types of dialysis such as hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In hemodialysis, there is the use of an artificial kidney machine which helps in pumping out the blood. The waste gets filtered out. Later, following the same process, the human blood gets entered into the body. In peritoneal dialysis, doctors involve the abdomen for the treatment. It is used to filter the human blood with the help of a peritoneal cavity. This is a clever dialysis method where a catheter gets implanted. Also, there are two types of peritoneal dialysis which can be used to complete the process. Depending on the situation, either continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis can be used. Or in some cases automated peritoneal dialysis can be used.

Kidney transplant

This is a more convenient option than dialysis. The reason behind dialysis involves various health complications and risks. Whereas, a kidney transplant helps in getting rid of the situation quickly. However, till the time a patient finds a suitable kidney donor, he or she has to undergo the entire process of dialysis.

Conclusion

Taking care of every organ of the body can only be possible when a good and healthy lifestyle is being followed. If a person is facing chronic kidney disease, it is essential to understand everything related to it. The above-mentioned guide about chronic kidney disease, its symptoms, solutions, and much more can allow you to make the right decision. However, professional medical advice is always needed. Taking help from Khosla Stone Kidney and Surgical Centre can be beneficial in early detection of it. Also, if you are facing severe symptoms of it, the issue can be handled by them with ease.

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Rajesh Khosla

Senior Urologist & Laser Surgeon with over 20+ years of clinical excellence in RIRS, HoLEP, Mini-PCNL, and Laparoscopic Surgeries at Khosla Stone Kidney & Surgical Centre, Ludhiana.

Chronic Kidney Disease: Everything to know about it