By Tamara Ruggiero
Anyone who has diabetes or high blood pressure should be
aware that these conditions can lead to chronic kidney disease, and even to
kidney failure. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, and
high blood pressure is the second leading cause. Diabetes and high blood
pressure account for 70 percent of all cases of kidney failure in African
Americans, and African Americans are four times more likely than whites to
experience kidney failure.
The good news is that kidney failure doesn't happen
overnight. Instead, it usually occurs only after kidney damage has taken place
over years, or even decades. By taking some precautions and monitoring your
health, you can greatly reduce your risk of kidney failure.
Your Kidneys
Most people don't stop to think about their kidneys, yet
life depends on them. These fist-sized organs are located on either side of the
spine at about waist height, and they play a crucial role in maintaining
health.
One vital function of the kidneys is to filter waste
products from the blood. Every two minutes, the body's entire blood supply
circulates through the kidneys, where the blood is filtered. Cleansed blood
flows back to the heart, and waste products are filtered out into the urine.
In addition to filtering waste, the kidneys control the
amount of fluid in the body, help regulate blood pressure, and aid in
production of red blood cells and healthy bones.
Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Failure
Both diabetes and high blood pressure can damage the
kidneys, which can lead to chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease is a
condition in which a person's kidneys are not working as well as they should.
Eventually, the damage from chronic kidney disease can lead
to kidney failure. When a person has kidney failure, it means their kidneys are
not working well enough to keep the person alive, and the only options are
dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant.
More than 7.4 million adults in the United States over age
20 have chronic kidney disease. That's 4.5 percent of the population. There are
currently 400,000 Americans who have progressed to kidney failure and are being
kept alive through dialysis or kidney transplants.
More than 75,000 people die from kidney failure each year.
Kidney disease is America's ninth leading cause of death.
With early diagnosis and treatment, chronic kidney disease
can be slowed and kidney failure may be avoided. Without treatment, chronic
kidney disease can become kidney failure with little or no warning.
Symptoms and Screenings
Early chronic kidney disease usually has no symptoms.
Chronic kidney disease sometimes develops so slowly that many patients don't
realize they are sick until the disease is advanced and they are rushed to the
hospital for life-saving dialysis. The only way to find out if you have chronic
kidney disease is to have some simple medical tests.
Sometimes there are warning signs of chronic kidney disease,
especially when you are approaching kidney failure. The warning signs include:
o Swelling
of parts of the body like the ankles, feet or face
o Burning
or unusual sensation during urination
o Foamy,
bloody or coffee-colored urine
o Urinating
more often, especially at night
o Easy
bruising or bleeding
o Listless
or tired feeling
You should be tested for chronic kidney disease if you have
experienced any of the above symptoms, or if you are diabetic, have high blood
pressure, or have a family member who has experienced kidney disease. Remember,
you can feel perfectly fine and still have chronic kidney disease.
The simple tests for chronic kidney disease include a urine
test for protein and a blood test for creatinine. Your doctor will use these
tests to figure out a number called your GFR (glomerular filtration rate). The
GFR number measures how well your kidneys work. Your doctor should be able to
explain exactly what your GFR number means.
Treatment
The treatment goal for a person with chronic kidney disease
is to slow down or stop the damage to the kidneys. It is very important for a
person with chronic kidney disease to control their blood pressure, control
their blood sugar if they are diabetic, avoid certain medicines, and follow a
special diet that a doctor or dietitian can explain.
Prevention
You can lower your risk of chronic kidney disease and kidney
failure by living a healthy lifestyle: eat low-fat, low-salt foods, exercise
regularly, limit alcohol intake and don't smoke.
Another aspect of prevention is to get regular medical
check-ups, which include screening for diabetes, high blood pressure and
chronic kidney disease - even if you feel fine!
If you have high blood pressure, take your medicine
faithfully and see your doctor often.
If you have diabetes, follow your diet, take your medication
and test your blood sugar regularly.
Tamara Ruggiero is Director of Communications for the
American Kidney Fund.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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