Your kidneys perform many things to keep you healthy. These include
Kidney disease in an important public health problem and in USA affect 1 in 7 Adults. As early kidney disease has no symptoms, more than 90% of people do not know that they have a kidney problem. As a consequence, the kidney disease often goes undetected until it is very late. It is hence important to detect it early by regular checkup especially if you are at a high risk.
Around 90% of people with kidney disease don’t know they have it. This is because kidney disease often has no symptoms until its later stage. Most people are also unaware of the risk factors and don’t know when and how to get tested
Knowing risk factors is the first step towards a healthy kidney.
By now we have understood that kidney disease may be silent and majority of the people with kidney disease have no symptoms. Symptoms are non-specific and often occur late in the disease. If you have any of the following symptoms, consult your nephrologist
If you are at a high risk for kidney disease, you can get the following tests done
Good score: A blood pressure below 140/90 is good for most and below 130/80 is better.
Good score: A score of less than 30 mg of albumin per gram of creatinine is normal.
Good score: A score over 90 is good. 60-89 should be monitored regularly. Less than 60 persisting for more than 3 months indicates chronic kidney disease.
(i) Lower high blood pressure.
(ii) Keep blood sugars under control.
(iii) Avoid pain killers (NSAIDs)
(iv) Moderate protein intake (0.8 gm/kg/day)
(v) Reduce salt intake to 5 gm/day
(i) Exercise regularly.
(ii) Control your weight.
(iii) Stop smoking.
(iv) Balance diet.
(v) Keep hydrated.
(vi) Stop alcohol or consume it in moderation.
(vii) Monitor your cholesterol levels.
(viii) Get physical examination done yearly.
(ix) Know your family medical history
(x) Stay updated with all vaccination.
My urine appears foamy, is it a kidney problem?
What does it mean: Foamy urine is often harmless and can be because of mild dehydration, rapid urination, urine infection, due to residual left over toilet cleaner or kidney disease.
When to seek attention?
What investigations should I do?
I am passing blood in the urine (Hematuria)?
What does it mean: Hematuria means that there is blood in the urine. The blood may come from any place in the urinary tract i.e. kidneys, ureter (tube connecting kidneys to the bladder), bladder or the urethra (the tube connecting the bladder to the outside of the body). You may have no symptoms or may at times have symptom like pain while passing urine, abdominal or flank pain, nausea, vomiting and or chills.
Common causes: In a vast majority the cause is kidney stone or an infection. It may at times suggest presence of cancer or an underlying kidney disease.
When should you seek advice: Whether you develop a gross hematuria (blood can be seen in toilet) or a microscopic hematuria (urine looks normal, but blood can be seen with a microscope) you should always seek a nephrology consultation.
I have developed swelling in my leg- is it kidney disease?
Swelling in the leg (edema) is caused by fluid accumulation in the leg tissue. There are two types of edema- pitting oedema when pressure is applied to an area on the body it leaves a small dent and non-pitting when there is no dent after applying the pressure. It is often absent or minimal on getting up in the morning and increase progressively as the day progresses. Not all edema is caused by kidney issues and may at times be due to a problem with the heart or the liver or a low protein in your blood.
Kidney disease that can cause oedema includes chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney failure and nephrotic syndrome.
I have diabetes. Am I at risk for kidney disease?
Are diabetics at risk for kidney disease?
Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease, accounting for nearly 40% of all kidney disease worldwide. Around 1 in 3 adults with diabetes has kidney disease.
What increases my chance of developing kidney disease?
Having diabetes for long duration increases the chances that you may have kidney disease. It increases further if you blood sugars and blood pressures are not well controlled. Your risk goes up further if you smoke, have a high salt intake, overweight, do not stay active or have a family history of kidney failure.
How can I find whether I have diabetic kidney disease?
You can approach your doctor who will ask for blood and urine test to find out if your kidneys are affected. All those with type 2 diabetes should get their blood and urine tested for kidney disease once a year.
I have diabetes. How can I keep my kidneys healthy?
The best way to slow or prevent kidney disease is to reach your blood pressure and blood sugar target. Based on your age and other factors your doctor will be able to set a target for you. In addition, a healthy lifestyle habits not only help you in achieving you blood pressure and sugar target but also keeps your kidneys happy. These healthy habits include
Are there medications which can slow the progression of my disease?
Some of the medicine which are used to treat high blood pressures and high blood sugar also reduces the risk for kidney disease progression. These medications are often combined to slow the progression of your kidney disease. These include.
My eGFR is less than 15 ml/min/1.73 m2. My doctor has advised me to get an AV Fistula created. Is he correct?
A hemodialysis access is a conduit for your blood to reach the hemodialysis machine where it is cleaned. The access includes
I have an AV fistula. What precautions do in need to take?
Do not wear tight cloths on your AV fistula arm. It may compress the fistula and make it non-functional.
Do not sleep with your head on the arm with AV Fistula
Do not allow anyone to measure BP
