What Causes Chronic Kidney Disease?

Your kidneys' main function is to filter waste and excess fluids from your blood. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function, often over the course of many years, which means waste and toxins slowly seep into the blood and cause various illnesses or even organ failure. CKD can progress to end-stage kidney failure,  which is fatal without the use of dialysis or a kidney transplant.

CKD occurs most often when a disease or condition impairs kidney functionality, which causes kidney damage to worsen over months and years. The two main causes of chronic kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure, which together cause about two-thirds of CKD cases.

• Type 1 or 2 Diabetes occurs when your blood sugar is too high, resulting in damage to many organs in the body, such as the kidneys and heart.
• High Blood Pressure occurs when the pressure of your blood against the walls of your blood vessels increases. 

Other diseases that can lead to end-stage renal failure are:

• Glomerulonephritis: A group of diseases that damage the kidneys' blood filtering systems (called glomeruli)
• Lupus: An autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack its own healthy tissue.
• Enlarged prostate: In men, an enlarged prostate or even kidney stones can negatively affect kidney function, which can lead to their gradual degradation.
  
• Cysts: Often hereditary, cysts can block the kidneys' ability to filter waste from blood, leading to CKD.

How Can I Prevent Chronic Kidney Disease?

Follow these prevention tips to reduce your risk of developing Chronic Kidney Disease:

• Maintain a healthy weight 
  
• Follow instructions on over-the-counter medications 
  
• Don’t smoke
  
• Manage your medical conditions with your doctor’s help
  

Risk Factors of CKD

• Diabetes
  
• High blood pressure
  
• Cardiovascular disease
  
• Smoking
  
• Obesity
  
• Family history
  
• Old age
  
• African-American, Native-American or Asian-American heritage
  

When to See A Doctor For CKD

The earlier that kidney disease is detected and treated, the higher chance of slowing down or hindering its progression. Early detection can be difficult with CKD because by the time symptoms surface, the patient is usually already far along the disease's timeline. Getting regular checkups and blood work is extremely important. 
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If you are at high risk of developing CKD, make an appointment with your doctor or make an appointment with a nephrologist (kidney specialist) here.

Got Questions? We Have Answers

Milwaukee Nephrologists is a network of experts and doctors that are board-certified in Nephrology and have chosen a focus that provides a wide array of sub-specialization. If you or a loved one suffers from, or is at risk for kidney disease, please contact us for an examination. 

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