Reducing Your Risk Of Kidney Disease

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs on either side of your spine, just below your rib cage. They help maintain your body’s overall health and well-being. Your kidney’s main function is to filter waste and toxins from your blood and regulate your body’s fluid levels.

“They also help maintain the mineral levels, acid-base and pH balance of your body’s fluids,” said Caitlin Sienkiewicz, DO, a Crown Point family medicine physician with Franciscan Physician Network. “The kidneys activate vitamin D to help our bones stay healthy and release hormones to signal production of blood cells, so we don’t develop anemia.”

When your kidneys aren’t functioning correctly, it can lead to health complications. One complication is chronic kidney disease, a common and serious health condition that is on the rise and affecting millions each year.

When The Kidneys Don’t Function Properly

When the kidneys lose function, it’s called kidney failure or end-stage renal disease.

“It’s a critical condition that can lead to death,” said Dr. Sienkiewicz. “That’s why with end-stage renal disease, people need dialysis. Dialysis replaces your kidneys’ filtering abilities and maintains the normal mineral and pH balance.”

However, it’s important to address kidney health well before this stage of the disease.

Common Risk Factors And Causes For Kidney Disease

Dr. Sienkiewicz said different risk factors are tied to kidney disease – some you can’t control, and others you can. Risk factors for kidney disease that are out of your control include age, gender, race, family history and having an autoimmune disease, like lupus.

Heart disease is a major risk factor for kidney disease, and many of the risk factors for heart disease also affect your risk for developing kidney disease. 

Common risk factors for kidney disease that you can control include:

• Diabetes: Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, impacting their long-term function.
• High blood pressure.  High blood pressure damages the blood vessels in the kidneys, making it difficult to filter waste from the blood.
• Chronic urinary tract infections: Chronic UTIs can damage the kidneys if left untreated or if they become chronic. Bacteria can travel up the ureters and infect the kidneys.
• Kidney stones: Kidney stones block the flow of urine and cause infection or inflammation.
• Certain medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and some antibiotics can cause kidney damage if taken over a long period.
• Lifestyle factors: Your lifestyle can greatly impact kidney health, including smoking, obesity and dehydration.

Symptoms Of Kidney Disease

You may not experience any symptoms in the early stages of kidney disease. But as the disease progresses, you may experience these symptoms of kidney disease:

• Fatigue
• Swelling in the legs, feet or ankles
• Frequent urination
• Bloody urine
• High blood pressure
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite.

Diagnosing Kidney Disease

“When we work with people at risk of kidney disease, we first evaluate their health through kidney function tests and vital signs,” said Dr.  Sienkiewicz. “If a person has swelling in their body or elevated blood pressure,” she said, “we look at labs like your glomerular filtration rate (your GFR). The GFR shows how much fluid your kidneys filter per hour, which tells us how well they function.”

Checking your electrolytes, which balance your sodium and potassium levels, and your phosphorus and magnesium levels, can also show whether your kidneys are functioning well.

Treating Kidney Disease

“Addressing and optimizing your overall health and following up with your primary care provider is important,” said Dr.  Sienkiewicz.

Early detection and treatment can help slow the progression, so regular check-ups can make a difference.

Doctors classify chronic kidney disease using five stages; each stage refers to how well your kidneys work and the treatment needed. In the early stages, your kidneys can still filter waste. But, in the later stages, your kidneys have to work harder or may not work at all.

“Kidney disease that has reached stage 4 or 5 is severe,” said Dr.  Sienkiewicz. “At this point, patients need dialysis to help the kidneys function properly.”

Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy

• Avoid anti-inflammatory medicines, like ibuprofen, naproxen, Mobic or meloxicam, because they damage your kidneys when taken regularly.
• Eat whole foods and foods that don’t contain added sugars.
• Exercise regularly, up to 20 to 30 minutes of activity a day.
• Limit your alcohol use.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Maintain a healthy blood pressure range, less than 130 over 80.
• Manage your blood sugar levels, and if you have diabetes, have good glycemic control; keeping your A1C less than seven helps prevent further damage.
• Reduce your salt and protein intake so you’re not putting extra stress on your kidneys.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
• Stop using tobacco.
• Watch your cholesterol levels.

Don’t let kidney disease go undetected. If you’re experiencing symptoms or are at risk, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. Remember, early detection and treatment can help slow or even stop the progression of kidney disease.