What You Need to Know About Kidney Disease
You don’t always feel sick when you have kidney disease. But getting the diagnosis can make you feel overwhelmed. If you have it, you are not alone. Studies show that 30 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and millions more are at risk.1
We want to provide you with the information you need to help you better cope with the disease, and so you can take an active role in your own care. When you understand more about your kidneys, the disease and your options for treatment, you may have a better chance of improving your quality of life with CKD.
Your kidneys are vital to your health
Your kidneys are bean-shaped organs behind your rib cage on either side of your spine. You have two kidneys, although you only need one to survive. Each kidney is roughly the size of your fist and it plays several important roles within your body:
- They remove waste from your blood.
In fact, they filter roughly 200 liters of blood every day. - They regulate and control your blood pressure.
They manage how much fluid remains inside your body. - They keep your bones healthy.
- They regulate certain chemicals in your body.
Why your kidneys may fail
Adults, the elderly, and even children can get kidney disease. Kidneys may fail for several reasons, including:
- diabetes
- obesity
- high blood pressure
- family history of kidney disease
- inflammation of the kidneys (a group of diseases known as glomerulonephritis)
- an injury
- immune disorders
- congenital birth defects
Stages of kidney disease
Kidney disease goes through several stages. With regular health checkups, your primary care doctor can help you prevent many conditions that lead to kidney disease or catch symptoms early enough to slow the progress of the disease.
When damage to your kidneys is permanent, it is called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Your kidneys can still work if there is only minor damage. If the damage gets worse, CKD can lead to End-Stage Renal Disease – also called kidney failure. If you have been diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease, the kidneys have stopped working well enough to filter your blood and you will need dialysis treatments or a transplant.
