CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a progressive and often silent condition where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to function. Numerous underlying conditions and risk factors contribute to the development and progression of CKD. 
CKD is often asymptomatic in its early stages, which makes it challenging to detect until significant damage has already occurred.
As CKD progresses, symptoms may include fatigue, weakness, swelling in the legs and ankles (due to fluid retention), decreased urine output, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and difficulty sleeping. Complications associated with advanced CKD include anemia (due to decreased production of erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production), bone disease, cardiovascular disease, and fluid overload leading to pulmonary edema.

· The other name of this disease is CHRONIC KIDNEY FAILURE.

· When our kidney does not work well for longer than 3 months, then doctors called it CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE.

FIRSTLY WE SHOULD KNOW THE MAIN CAUSES OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE –

•  DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE 

• These two causes are responsible for up to two-thirds of the cases of chronic disease of kidneys.

1. when our blood sugar level is very high, then Diabetes can  occurs . These cause damage to many organs in our body including the kidneys, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and eyes.
2. High blood pressure also called hypertension, occurs when blood pressure is more than against the walls of blood vessels. This can be the main cause of chronic kidney disease.

You can measure your Chronic Kidney Disease by your Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR).GFR is the estimation of the level of your kidney function. This estimation is done by determining how much your nephrons filter waste materials through a creatinine level blood test. When the creatinine level is tested, it is calculated with your age, gender, body size, muscular composition, sometimes race (as the case may be) through an equation of your doctor’s choice. The result will show you what stage of Chronic Kidney Disease you are at.

• These stages include:

1. Stage: 90% and above

Very mild level of kidney damage, with almost insignificant symptoms. This is considered the normal rate.

2. Stage: 60% to 89%

In mild level of kidney damage, with slightly increased signs of damage.

3. Stage: 30% to 59%

Moderate level of kidney damage. More symptoms show.

4. Stage: 16% to 29%

Severe level of kidney damage. Signs become more intense and discomforting. You may need dialysis.

5. Stage: 0 to 15%

End-stage damage of the kidney. Chronic or total loss of kidney function. Dialysis and if a possible kidney transplant is required.