Living with Chronic Kidney Disease

Q: Can Chronic Kidney Disease be treated?

Like most chronic conditions, CKD is usually managed but not cured. Lifestyle Changes Certain day-to-day changes can help slow damage to the kidneys and reduce risk to other organs, especially the heart. Some changes that may help include: - Reduce sodium intake. If you have CKD, your kidneys are not properly removing excess fluid from your blood. A diet high in sodium (salt) can exacerbate that problem by causing your body to retain more fluid. - Quit smoking. In addition to being a risk factor for the onset of CKD, this habit can worsen existing problems by damaging blood vessels and kidney function. - Exercise. Aim for 30 minutes per day of moderate physical activity. This doesn’t have to be intense – even a brisk walk can have enormous benefits! Depending on your specific prognosis, other lifestyle factors, like additional diet considerations, may be beneficial. Your physician will discuss these with you at your appointments. Medical Interventions The available treatments for CKD vary, depending on each patient’s health history and other conditions. For example: - Patients with high blood pressure may focus on keeping it under control with ACE inhibitors or other relevant medications; - Patients with diabetes may focus on properly managing that condition with insulin and/or other medications; - Patients with obesity may aim for weight loss to reduce stress on the kidneys. Other medications may focus on symptom relief or reduction. Diuretics (water pills), for example, may be helpful in reducing potentially dangerous swelling.

Alex Courville, MD
Jun 3
4 min read

Everyone has kidneys, but what do kidneys even do?

The kidneys are a workhorse of an organ that help clear out waste and excess fluid from the blood.

When they’re working properly, you may never think about them. When they aren’t, it can be quite a disruption in your life.

What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

Often called CKD, Chronic Kidney Disease is the gradual loss of kidney function. As the function wanes, the kidneys lose their ability to filter the waste and excess fluid out.

What are the symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease?

CKD develops gradually and with few noticeable symptoms, at least in the early stages. As the disease progresses, patients may notice things like:

Fatigue or weakness
Muscle cramps
Swelling, especially in the legs or feet
Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea or vomiting
Foamy or bubbly urine

Who is at risk for Chronic Kidney Disease?

As with most chronic conditions, genetics, age and lifestyle play significant roles in risk. Patients at higher risk for CKD include those with:

Diabetes – This is the most common underlying factor. Among Americans with diabetes, about 1 in 3 also have CKD.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) – This is the second-most common underlying factor. About 1 in 5 adults with hypertension also has CKD.
Heart disease
A family history of kidney disease (CKD, but also other types of kidney dysfunction, like polycystic kidney disease)
Obesity
Age over 60
A habit of smoking
Long-term use of certain medications, especially NSAIDs like ibuprofen

Can Chronic Kidney Disease be treated?

Like most chronic conditions, CKD is usually managed but not cured.

Lifestyle Changes

Certain day-to-day changes can help slow damage to the kidneys and reduce risk to other organs, especially the heart. Some changes that may help include:

Reduce sodium intake. If you have CKD, your kidneys are not properly removing excess fluid from your blood. A diet high in sodium (salt) can exacerbate that problem by causing your body to retain more fluid.
Quit smoking. In addition to being a risk factor for the onset of CKD, this habit can worsen existing problems by damaging blood vessels and kidney function.
Exercise. Aim for 30 minutes per day of moderate physical activity. This doesn’t have to be intense – even a brisk walk can have enormous benefits!

Depending on your specific prognosis, other lifestyle factors, like additional diet considerations, may be beneficial. Your physician will discuss these with you at your appointments.

Medical Interventions

The available treatments for CKD vary, depending on each patient’s health history and other conditions. For example:

Patients with high blood pressure may focus on keeping it under control with ACE inhibitors or other relevant medications;
Patients with diabetes may focus on properly managing that condition with insulin and/or other medications;
Patients with obesity may aim for weight loss to reduce stress on the kidneys.

Other medications may focus on symptom relief or reduction. Diuretics (water pills), for example, may be helpful in reducing potentially dangerous swelling.

What complications may exist with Chronic Kidney Disease?

Because healthy kidneys help keep the blood clean, chronic kidney disease poses significant risks to every other organ in the body – after all, your blood reaches all of them! Some more serious concerns include:

Heart attack or stroke – These are among the more common issues you and your doctor will be monitoring for if you have CKD.
High blood pressure – If you don’t have it already, excess fluid in the blood (as a byproduct of malfunctioning kidneys) can cause hypertension or make it worse.
Fluid retention and swelling – If these are not well-controlled, excess fluid can cause problems in the lungs (pulmonary edema) or other organs, in addition to expected pain and movement limitations.

If kidney function declines too much, your doctor may recommend dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Can I live normally with Chronic Kidney Disease?

It’s certainly possible. Patients who are dedicated to necessary lifestyle changes and who remain adherent to prescription medications can often live relatively normal lives. It’s even possible to travel – see my tips for doing so in this article from Everyday Health.

Can Chronic Kidney Disease be prevented?

It’s not always preventable, but patients can certainly proactively lower their risk and, if it does come, manage it properly in partnership with their physician(s). If you’re at risk for kidney disease, make sure to:

Focus on preventive lifestyle factors, such as maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy diet; avoid smoking; and regularly engage in moderate exercise.
See your physician annually for a check-up. Because CKD can occur with minimal symptoms in the early stages, it’s important to get regular blood work to identify issues before they get out of hand. Early detection is beneficial for most chronic conditions.
Manage existing conditions. If you currently have conditions (like diabetes, hypertension or obesity) that put you at higher risk for CKD, commit to managing them well. Adhere to your prescription medications, see your doctor regularly, and adopt a healthy lifestyle to minimize your risks.

Ready to see a provider?

The board-certified providers at The Kinder Clinic are available to assess your needs and support your health. Click here to request an appointment, or call us at 337-738-2713.