These kidney conditions can cause a range of complications that affect different parts of the body. Some of the possible complications include high blood pressure, anemia, bone disease, nerve damage, fluid buildup, and kidney failure. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems. Anemia can occur when the kidneys don’t produce enough red blood cells, which can cause fatigue and weakness. Kidney disease can also lead to bone disease and an increased risk of fractures. Nerve damage can cause tingling, numbness, or weakness in the hands and feet. Fluid buildup can cause shortness of breath. In severe cases, it can lead to kidney failure, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant to treat.
Stages of (Chronic) Kidney Disease
The stages of kidney disease are important to understand how kidneys work and how they can change over time. This condition can be mild or severe, and it’s essential to know the different stages to get the right treatment. To make it easier to understand we’ve created an overview about the stages and GFR,
| Stage of CKD | GFR (ml/min/1.73m²) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | ≥ 90 | Kidney damage with normal or increased GFR |
| Stage 2 | 60-89 | Mildly decreased GFR |
| Stage 3a | 45-59 | Mild to moderate decrease in GFR |
| Stage 3b | 30-44 | Moderate to severe decrease in GFR |
| Stage 4 | 15-29 | Severe decrease in GFR |
| Stage 5 | < 15 | Kidney failure (end-stage renal disease) |
GFR stands for glomerular filtration rate, which is a measure of how well the kidneys are functioning. The GFR is calculated based on a person’s age, sex, race, and blood creatinine level. As the GFR decreases, the kidneys are less able to filter waste and fluid from the body. In the early stages of CKD, there may be few or no symptoms, but as the disease progresses, symptoms like fatigue, nausea, and swelling may develop. It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider if you’re concerned about your kidney health or if you’re experiencing any symptoms that may be related to kidney disease.
Are There Any Treatment Options?
Kidney disease is diagnosed through a comprehensive evaluation by a healthcare provider. This evaluation involves reviewing your medical history, conducting a physical examination, and performing urine and blood tests. Additionally, imaging tests like ultrasound or CT scan may be used to get a picture of your kidneys and check for any abnormalities. In some cases, a kidney biopsy may be performed to further evaluate the condition of the kidneys. By gathering information from these evaluations, the doctor can determine if you have kidney disease and what stage it is in. Fortunately, there are several treatment options. Of course this depends on the type and stage of the disease. The most common options include:
- Medications: Medications may be prescribed to manage underlying health conditions that are contributing to kidney disease, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Lifestyle changes: Adopting a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can help manage kidney disease.
- Dialysis: In cases of severe kidney failure, dialysis may be required. Dialysis is a procedure that helps filter waste and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys are unable to do so.
- Kidney transplant: For severe cases (end-stage), a kidney transplant may be considered as a treatment option. This involves surgically replacing a damaged kidney with a healthy one from a donor.
It’s important to do a lot of research on this condition. You can do this by talking to your professional healthcare provider, as well as through online research. We want to help you along, so start your search here:
