Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Ckd
If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, its important to start or continue a dialogue with your doctor about your risk for CKD. Here are some questions you may want to ask, depending on your current kidney disease status.
1. Am I at risk for kidney damage if I have high blood pressure?
High blood pressure can damage blood vessels in your kidneys. If youve had uncontrolled high blood pressure for some time, theres a good chance youre at an elevated risk for CKD and may benefit from kidney function screening.
2. Am I at risk for kidney damage if I have diabetes?
Diabetes is the leading cause of CKD. Depending on how well controlled your blood sugar levels have been, you may have an increased risk of kidney damage if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Talk to your doctor about ways to keep your kidneys healthy and whether you should get tested for CKD.
3. Should I have my kidney function tested?
A common test for kidney function measures blood levels of creatinine a normal waste product from muscle breakdown and uses this number along with other data to calculate an estimated glomerular filtration rate . Other tests to screen for and evaluate kidney disease look at levels of protein and blood in urine.
4. Do I have CKD?
5. What is my kidney function number?
Knowing your kidney function level and the stage of your CKD can help you and your doctor evaluate whether your current treatment strategy is working as well as it could.
6. Do I have protein in my urine?
When To See A Specialist
If youre at risk of kidney disease due to high blood pressure, your primary care doctor may recommend annual testing. You may also be referred to a nephrologist, a doctor who specializes in kidney disorders.
At Temple, our nephrologists will work with you to find the best way to maintain kidney function. And if necessary, guide you through a range of treatment options.
How To Prevent Or Slow Ckd
The best way to prevent CKD is to manage and treat conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, that can damage your kidneys. Lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking, can also help. If you are at risk for CKD, talk to your doctor about how often you should get screened for the condition. Early detection and treatment are important in helping prevent CKD from progressing.
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Signs That Something May Be Wrong With Your Kidneys
If your kidneys cant balance fluids or remove waste and toxins efficiently, you may experience these symptoms:
- Leg and ankle swelling
- Chest pain due to inflammation of the sac around the heart
Health issues can also occur if your mineral levels are too high or too low. Irregular heartbeats may be a problem if your potassium level rises, while calcium depletion can lead to broken bones.
Kidney damage may make it even harder to regulate your blood pressure. Blood pressure tends to increase when fluids build up and your kidneys struggle to regulate hormones that control pressure. If the damage is severe, your kidneys may eventually begin to fail.
Dialysis, a treatment that removes waste and extra fluids from your blood, or a kidney transplant may then be needed to save your life.
What Is Good Kidney Disease Care
According to a national review, kidney disease services should:
- identify people at risk of kidney disease, especially people with high blood pressure or diabetes, and treat them as early as possible to maintain their kidney function
- give people access to investigative treatment and follow them up to reduce the risk of the disease getting worse
- give people good-quality information about managing their condition
- provide information about the development of the disease and treatment options
- provide access to a specialist renal team
- give people access to transplant or dialysis services if required
- provide supportive care
Your treatment for kidney disease will need to be reviewed regularly.
It may be helpful for you to make a care plan because this can help you manage your day-to-day health. Your kidney disease specialist nurse may be able to help with this.
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Who Is At Risk For Diabetes
When it comes to Type 2 diabetes the risk factors can be divided into two different categories genetic or factors that are out of an individuals control, and environmental, says Dr. Bahagon. On the one end, a family history of diabetes , certain races or ethnic backgrounds such as Hispanic, Asian American, American Indian and African American, a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome or gestational diabetes, in addition to age are all factors that we cant change but increase the risk of diabetes. On the other end, areas that individuals can have an impact on include weight, physical inactivity, high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. This is where the importance of educating people about the risks that they have control of is extremely important.
What Are The Clinical Signs Of Kidney Failure
Excessive thirst and urination are among the most recognizable symptoms of kidney failure in cats.
Even when the kidneys are failing enough to cause clinical signs, kidney failure may not be the obvious diagnosis. Kidney failures clinical signs are non-specific, meaning that they dont indicate a particular disease.
The clinical signs gradually worsen as kidney failure progresses.
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Why Blood Pressure Medications Are So Important
Blood pressure medications work by decreasing the resistance of blood vessels, which helps to lower the blood pressure. There are several different types of blood pressure medications, including:
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: These medications work by blocking the production of a substance in the body called angiotensin II, which can constrict blood vessels and increase blood pressure.
Angiotensin receptor blockers : These medications work in a similar way to ACE inhibitors, but they block the action of angiotensin II rather than inhibiting its production.
Beta blockers: These medications work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine , which can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
Calcium channel blockers: These medications work by blocking the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels, which can help to relax the muscles of the blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
Diuretics: These medications help to remove excess fluid from the body, which can help to lower blood pressure.
It’s important to take blood pressure medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you have any questions or concerns about your medication, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
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What Causes Renal Hypertension
Renal hypertension is caused by a part or total bock of the arteries that supply blood to your kidneys. These renal arteries carry blood rich in oxygen and nutrients from your heart to your kidneys. If your kidneys do not get enough blood or oxygen, it may be because these renal arteries are narrowed, a condition called renal artery stenosis.
Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is the most common cause of renal artery stenosis. Plaque, made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances, builds up inside your arteries and causes them to harden and narrow . Plaque can block, either partially or totally, your blood’s flow through an artery in the heart, brain, pelvis, legs, arms or kidneys.
Another cause of renal artery stenosis is fibromuscular dysplasia . While the cause of FMD is not clear, it is different in that it is not caused by plaque build-up, but rather narrowing of your blood vessel walls themselves. FMD is more common in women and should be considered in younger people who develop high blood pressure.
Additional causes include:
- Arteries blocked by grafts.
How Is Renal Hypertension Diagnosed
It is important to see your healthcare provider regularly to make sure your blood pressure numbers are checked and are within the normal range. He or she may recommend blood tests.
A healthcare provider can gather clues that vascular disease may be present by taking a thorough history and performing a physical exam. If you have a history of other vascular diseases, such as heart attacks or strokes, you are at higher risk for having renal artery stenosis. One exam, listening to the neck or belly with a stethoscope, may help identify narrowed arteries. When blood flows through a narrowed artery, it sometimes makes a whooshing sound, called a bruit.
Healthcare providers may order one of the imaging tests below to look for narrowed kidney arteries. However, finding a narrowed kidney artery alone does not mean that your high blood pressure is due to renal hypertension. Many people have narrowing of kidney arteries without high blood pressure or with high blood pressure that is not caused by the narrowing . The healthcare provider will need to use other clinical clues to help determine if the two are connected.
Imaging tests that can be done to see if the kidneys arteries have narrowed include:
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Put Away The Salt Shaker
If you are salt sensitive, eating less salt, or sodium, can help you bring down your blood pressure. Sea salt is just the sameand just as harmful for youas table salt. Salt substitutes may be high in potassium, which is dangerous for you if your kidneys can’t remove it from your body. It’s better to use herbal seasonings, which come in lots of low-salt flavors.
Most sodium comes from processed foods that come in cans, bags, or boxes. Food from restaurants also tends to be much higher in sodium than fresh foods that are cooked at home.
The American Heart Association says we should ALL limit sodium in our diets to 1,500 milligrams per day. Many people find that once they get used to eating less salt, food tastes better.
How Common Are High Blood Pressure And Kidney Disease
Almost 1 in 2 U.S. adultsor about 108 million peoplehave high blood pressure.1
More than 1 in 7 U.S. adultsor about 37 million peoplemay have chronic kidney disease .2
High blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney failure in the United States after diabetes, as illustrated in Figure 1.2
Almost 1 in 2 U.S. adultsor about 108 million peoplehave high blood pressure.
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How Will I Know If My High Blood Pressure Is Affecting My Kidneys
To know if your kidneys have been damaged, your doctor may do tests, including:
- Blood tests: To help find out how well your kidneys still work
- Urine tests: To check for blood and protein in your urine or other signs of problems
- Imaging tests: To look at your kidneys, such as an ultrasound, CT scan, X-ray or MRI
Early Warning Signs And Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
Recognizing whether you have a kidney stone by yourself is often challenging because it may confuse you with other pain. Unfortunately, these are the early warning signs of having kidney stones that require a visit to seek kidney stone pain emergency treatment from a facility located nearby.
Your kidney is partially located beneath your ribs in the back, and the pain for many starts in the flank area. The pain may begin between your pelvis and ribs and move around your abdomen and groin. You may get confused because you may have back issues and think it is a kidney stone, but the location is entirely wrong. You dont get kidney stone pain in the middle of your back near your spine or lower back by the hip bones.
You may experience intermittent pain where the kidney stone pain comes and goes because you could pass some urine around the stone. However, you mustnt believe you have passed the stone because it merely indicates that urine can get around the stone and has not backed into the kidney.
You may experience nausea and omitting when dealing with kidney stones. In addition, you can have an upset stomach because of a shared no connection between the kidneys and the GI tract.
If you observe blood in your urine, it indicates you might have a kidney stone. However, some people may not notice the blood until discovered by a medical professional in a simple urine test. On the other hand, some may see blood in your urine even when they do not have any other symptoms.
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Preventing And Delaying Ckd
Anyone with diabetes and/or high blood pressure can take steps to try and prevent CKD, and those who already have CKD can try and slow the process. Early detection, managing blood sugar levels and blood pressure, living a healthy lifestyle, and health education can help prevent or delay CKD from progressing.
Do Cats Feel Sick With Kidney Disease
Cats tend to respond differently to various types of kidney disease. Cats with chronic kidney disease may experience decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, and increased urination, but there is no consistent pattern of symptoms.
Some cats may not show any signs at all until the disease has progressed to the stage where they experience decreased blood flow to the kidneys or they develop kidney failure.
There is some evidence to suggest that cats with chronic kidney disease may experience decreased appetite and weight loss due to the depletion of their energy stores, but this is not always the case. Some cats may experience increased thirst and urination as a result of the disease.
There is no cure for kidney disease in cats, but there are a number of available treatments that can improve their quality of life. Treatment options may include dietary changes, medications, and surgery.
If you are concerned about your cats health, please consult your veterinarian.
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Why Is Kelp Considered To Be A Superfood
Seaweed: ItÕs not just for sushi anymore. In fact, kelp, a form of seaweed, has made its way into kitchens of health-conscious people all over the world Ñ and thatÕs perfectly OK with me. Considered by many to be a superfood because of its wide variety of nutrients, kelp has been a staple of several Asian cultures for centuries.
Upset Stomach Nausea Vomiting
Why this happens:
A severe build-up of wastes in the blood can also cause nausea and vomiting. Loss of appetite can lead to weight loss.
What patients said:
I had a lot of itching, and I was nauseated, throwing up all the time. I couldnt keep anything down in my stomach.
When I got the nausea, I couldnt eat and I had a hard time taking my blood pressure pills.
- Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Reviewed on 10/9/2020
Many different conditions can cause the symptoms of bloating, distended stomach, and urinary symptoms. Some conditions like diabetes can increase the risk for infection, which can cause these symptoms. Other common causes can include gastrointestinal conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, or giardiasis. Talk to you doctor about any concerning symptoms to help determine the cause.
While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:
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How Do Doctors Treat High Blood Pressure
First, your doctor may suggest some healthy life changes. This may include:
- Following a low-sodium eating plan
- Being active for at least 30 minutes most days of the week
- Quitting smoking or using tobacco
- Drinking less alcohol
If healthy life changes are not enough to control your blood pressure, your doctor may give you a prescription blood pressure medicine. There are two types of blood pressure medicines that can also help protect your kidneys and slow down kidney disease:
- ACE inhibitors : A group of medicines that lower blood pressure by widening your blood vessels, helping your kidneys get rid of extra water and lowering the levels of hormones that raise blood pressure
- ARBs :A group of medicines that lower blood pressure by widening your blood vessels
Your doctor might also ask you to take a diuretic, also called a water pill. This helps your body get rid of extra fluid which can cause high blood pressure.
Be sure to take all medicines the way your doctor tells you to. Blood pressure medicines work best when you take them every day even if you feel fine.
Talk to your doctor if you have any side effects from your medicines. You may be able to take a different medicine that does not have those side effects.