An estimated 30 million people in the U.S. have chronic kidney disease, a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time. For your weekly health news roundup, we have provided you with our best articles on the topic. You will find information on the various stages of kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, and uremia. Also, to help round out your week, we have included an article on a chronic kidney disease diet.
Stage 3 chronic kidney disease: Symptoms, diet, and treatment
In chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney function doesn’t fail at once. The condition, in fact, progresses over time and through stages. The success of the treatment often depends on which stage chronic kidney disease is diagnosed at. For best outcomes and prevention of complications, the condition should be detected as early as possible.
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Chronic kidney disease comes in five stages. To measure kidney function, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is used. GFR number is calculated based on age, race, sex, and serum creatinine. A blood test is used to determine serum creatinine levels. Creatinine is a waste product of muscle activity. When the kidneys aren’t functioning properly, creatinine levels are higher as waste cannot be effectively removed. Continue reading…
What is the life expectancy with stage 4 kidney disease? Symptoms, treatment, and diet
Stage 4 kidney disease is considered an advanced form of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that is characterized by a severe decrease in its ability to perform its function. At this point, the condition has reached a life-threatening territory and will require significant treatment to increase survival.
Our kidneys are two of the most important organs in the body and are responsible for removing waste and excess fluid. Most of these discarded substances are considered toxic and would lead to several abnormalities if not promptly removed. Continue reading…
End stage renal disease (ESRD) or stage 5 kidney disease: Causes, symptoms, and treatment
End stage renal disease (ESRD) is the last stage of kidney disease (stage 5) in which the kidneys cannot function any longer are unable to keep up with the daily needs of the body. At this stage, dialysis or a kidney transplant is necessary in order to treat the disease.
The role of the kidneys is to filter waste from blood and urine. In kidney disease, the kidney’s ability to do this becomes impaired. With each passing stage, kidney function progressively decreases, so waste cannot be expelled and builds up in the body. Continue reading…
Uremia, a complication of chronic kidney disease: Causes, symptoms, treatment, and diet
Uremia or uremic syndrome is a condition that develops when your kidneys become too damaged to filter out harmful substances from the body, particularly urea and creatinine. Instead, increased levels of these substances build up in the blood, leading to the manifestation of dangerous side effects that may eventually become life-threatening.
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Chronic kidney disease is often attributed to the development of uremia. The condition is estimated to affect nearly 14 percent of the U.S. population, killing more people than breast or prostate cancer each year. Continue reading…
Chronic kidney disease patients can live longer with healthy diet: Study
Chronic kidney disease patients can live longer with a healthy diet. The researchers analyzed seven studies that included over 15,000 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The researchers wanted to evaluate the impact of a healthy diet – fruits, vegetables, fish, legumes, whole grains – on CKD (if any).
In six of the studies, a healthy diet was associated with 20 to 30 percent lower rate of early death, but the study did not directly prove that a healthy diet would extend life. Continue reading…
