Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, is a health condition where the kidneys slowly stop working well over time.
It is often called a silent disease because many people don’t feel sick in the early stages. But it can become very serious if not found and treated early.
Our kidneys have an important job. They clean the blood by removing waste and extra fluid. This waste then leaves the body as urine. If the kidneys get damaged, they can’t do this job properly. That means harmful waste builds up in the body, which can lead to many health problems.
People with CKD might develop high blood pressure, weak bones, anemia, and nerve problems. It can also make it harder to stay healthy overall and increases the risk of heart disease.
The most common cause of CKD is diabetes. High blood sugar can hurt the small blood vessels in the kidneys. When these vessels are damaged, the kidneys can’t filter the blood properly. About one in three people with diabetes ends up developing CKD. That’s why it’s very important to control blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.
High blood pressure is another major cause of kidney damage. When blood pressure is too high, it can harm the blood vessels in the kidneys. This makes it harder for the kidneys to do their job. Keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level helps protect your kidneys.
There are other less common causes of CKD. One is glomerulonephritis, which is a kind of swelling in the kidney’s tiny filters. Some people inherit kidney problems, like polycystic kidney disease, where cysts grow in the kidneys and damage them over time.
Other causes include birth problems with the kidneys, autoimmune diseases like lupus, and blockages caused by kidney stones or tumors. In men, an enlarged prostate can also block the flow of urine and lead to kidney problems. Frequent urinary infections may also play a role.
Your daily habits can also affect kidney health. Smoking reduces blood flow to the kidneys and makes other problems, like high blood pressure and diabetes, worse. Being overweight increases your risk for both of these diseases too. That’s why it’s important to eat healthy food, exercise regularly, and not smoke.
The good news is that CKD can often be found early with simple tests. People at higher risk—such as those with diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney problems—should get their kidneys checked regularly.
If caught early, CKD can be managed. Treatment usually focuses on fixing the problems that caused the kidney damage in the first place. This might include medicines to control blood pressure, lower blood sugar, or reduce cholesterol. In later stages, more serious treatments like dialysis or a kidney transplant might be needed.
Doctors and scientists are learning more about CKD all the time. New tests and treatments are helping people with kidney disease live better lives. But the most powerful tool is awareness. By knowing the risks and making healthy choices, you can help protect your kidneys and stay healthier for longer.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about drug that prevents kidney failure in diabetes, and drinking coffee could help reduce risk of kidney injury.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about foods that may prevent recurrence of kidney stones, and common painkillers may harm heart, kidneys and more.
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