Kidney Disease Education

Understanding your kidney disease, or renal disease, is the first step in taking control of your health. When you have kidney disease, your kidneys are no longer able to remove waste effectively from your body or to balance your fluids. The build up of wastes can change the chemistry of your body causing some symptoms that you can feel, and others that you don’t. With kidney diseases, the first symptoms you may have are ones that you won’t feel but that will show up in tests that your doctor orders. Common problems are high blood pressure, anemia and weakening bones. It is important to find a kidney doctor (also called a nephrologist). Partner closely with your doctor and your healthcare team as early as possible. Okay… but what do healthy kidneys do? Your kidneys -- two bean-shaped organs located in your lower back -- are your body’s filtration system, cleaning wastes and extra fluids from your body and producing and balancing chemicals that are necessary for your body to function. Healthy kidneys also: Clean and filter your blood Produce urine Produce hormones Control blood pressure Keep bones strong Following a kidney-friendly diet, managing health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension and not smoking may help your kidneys function better and longer, even when you have kidney disease. What stage am I in? Chronic kidney disease (CKD) comes in stages and knowing your stage is important for deciding treatment. CKD has five stages, ranging from nearly normal kidney function (stage 1) to kidney failure (stage 5), which requires dialysis or kidney transplant. Understanding your stage can help you learn how to take control and slow the progression of kidney disease. The stages of renal disease are not based on symptoms alone. Instead, they reflect how effectively the kidneys eliminate waste from the blood by using an equation that estimates kidney function, known as glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Determining your GFR requires a simple blood test. How did I get kidney disease? Diabetes and high blood pressure are the top causes of kidney diseases. Another form of CKD is glomerulonephritis, a general term for many types of kidney inflammation. Genetic diseases (such as polycystic kidney disease, or PKD), autoimmune diseases, birth defects, acute kidney failure and other problems can also cause kidney disease. Take a 3-minute Kidney Disease Risk Quiz to see if you're at risk for renal disease (located in the DaVita home page). How do I slow the progression of kidney disease? Ways to take control: Choose a healthcare team that specializes in your stage of kidney disease. Don’t smoke. Exercise. Take medications as prescribed by your doctor. Eat right by limiting foods that are high in protein, saturated fats, phosphorus, potassium and sodium, all of which can put extra strain on your kidneys. If you need help managing a kidney Diet,just visit our recipe page to plan meals, track your nutrients and more. Know more about medications when you have renal disease. Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements can be very harmful. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medications. What are the symptoms of chronic kidney disease? Knowing the symptoms of kidney disease can help people detect it early enough to get treatment. Symptoms can include: Changes in urination — making more or less urine than usual, feeling pressure when urinating, changes in the color of urine, foamy or bubbly urine, or having to get up at night to urinate. Swelling of the feet, ankles, hands, or face — fluid the kidneys can't remove may stay in the tissues. Fatigue or weakness — a build-up of wastes or a shortage of red blood cells (anemia) can cause these problems when the kidneys begin to fail. Shortness of breath — kidney failure is sometimes confused with asthma or heart failure, because fluid can build up in the lungs. Ammonia breath or an ammonia or metal taste in the mouth— waste build-up in the body can cause bad breath, changes in taste, or an aversion to protein foods like meat. Back or flank pain — the kidneys are located on either side of the spine in the back. Itching — waste build-up in the body can cause severe itching, especially of the legs. Loss of appetite Nausea and vomiting More hypoglycemic episodes, if diabetic If you believe you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about your concerns. This is especially important if you have a close family member who has kidney disease, or if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, which are the main causes of kidney failure.