How Can Doctors Tell My Stage Of Ckd
To find out your stage of CKD, doctors will do tests, such as:
- eGFR tests , which is a measure of how well your kidneys are working
- Urine tests
Please note: eGFR is an estimate of how well your kidneys are working. The way eGFR is calculated will be changing. Currently the test considers your age, sex and race, among other things. A task force led by the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology is working on recommendations that may remove Black race as a factor in the eGFR calculation. The task force has been seeking the input of kidney disease experts to come up with the best way to make the eGFR test as accurate as possible. The American Kidney Fund advised the task force to remove race from the eGFR so there is no bias in testing kidney function. This would help to make sure that every person will receive health care that is fair and of the highest quality. When the NKF-ASN task force makes its recommendations, AKF will promptly review them and then update our educational materials.
Manage Or Prevent Heart Disease
People with stage 4 kidney disease have a high risk of having heart disease. In fact, most people with kidney disease do not die of kidney failure – they die of heart disease. Why? Because, in addition to kidney disease, they usually have one or more of the following health risks:
You can help slow – or possibly prevent – heart problems by following your treatment plan. Ask your healthcare professional what you need to do to keep your heart healthy.
What Are The Stages Of Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease is diagnosed by the eGFR and other factors, and is divided into five stages:
| Stage of Chronic Kidney Disease | eGFR ml/min/1.73 m |
| Stage 1: the eGFR shows normal kidney function but you are already known to have some kidney damage or disease. For example, you may have some protein or blood in your urine, an abnormality of your kidney, kidney inflammation, etc. | 90 or more |
| Stage 2: mildly reduced kidney function AND you are already known to have some kidney damage or disease. People with an eGFR of 60-89 without any known kidney damage or disease are not considered to have chronic kidney disease . | 60 to 89 |
| Stage 3: moderately reduced kidney function. | 45 to 59 |
| Stage 4: severely reduced kidney function. | 15 to 29 |
| Stage 5: very severely reduced kidney function. This is sometimes called end-stage kidney failure or established renal failure. | Less than 15 |
Note: it is normal for your eGFR to change slightly from one measurement to the next. In some cases these changes may actually be large enough to move you from one stage of chronic kidney disease to another and then back again. However, as long as your eGFR is not getting progressively worse, it is the average value that is most important.
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Know That Your Medicines May Change Over Time
Your health care provider may change your medicines as your kidney disease gets worse. Your kidneys dont filter as well as they did in the past, and this can cause an unsafe buildup of medicines in your blood. Some medicines can also harm your kidneys. As a result, your provider may tell you to
- take a medicine less often or take a smaller dose
- stop taking a medicine or switch to a different one
Your pharmacist and health care provider need to know about all the medicines you take, including OTC medicines, vitamins, and supplements.
Do What You Can To Manage The Complications Of Kidney Disease
Kidney disease can cause other health problems throughout your body including:
- Heart and blood vessel problems
- Anemia
- Mineral and bone problems
- High blood pressure
- Poor nutritional health
If you have stage 4 kidney disease, you are probably experiencing some of these problems already. Your healthcare professional will work with you to develop a treatment plan to help manage these problems and keep them from getting worse. Treatment may include diet, exercise, and medications. It is very important that you follow your treatment plan because it can greatly improve your quality of life and how long you live. It can also help to slow or even stop kidney disease from getting worse – and it may even stop or delay kidney failure.
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How Does The Kidney Disease Solution Program Work
The cookbook, ebook, and audio material guide patients through the process of treatment step-by-step. The guidebook provides guidelines for changing your lifestyle to improve kidney health. Additionally the book provides recipes for supporting kidney health and function. Additionally, it offers several natural remedies that could help treat your condition.
The audio material provides guided meditation exercises along with morning yoga flow exercises. The guided meditation audio is effective in relieving stress and improving the quality of sleep. The morning yoga flow exercises, led by renowned yogini Antonella Milo, aim to energize you for the day , while promoting kidney health.
The overall collection of materials provides a holistic and natural approach to treating kidney disease. Through simple lifestyle changes, releasing stress with meditation, and practicing yoga, you can say goodbye to the discomfort and pain caused by kidney disease.
The Kidney Disease Solution Cookbook
The 133-page book is full of recipes that are easy to follow and need to add to create a kidney-friendly diet. Each recipe is designed to meet the daily nutritional requirements of the body. The book also instructs you how to adopt healthy eating habits. Whats more, it also offers recipes specific to other medical conditions you could have, such as hypertension and diabetes.
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What Causes Chronic Kidney Disease
A number of conditions can cause permanent damage to the kidneys and/or affect the function of the kidneys and lead to chronic kidney disease. Three common causes in the UK, which probably account for about three in four cases of chronic kidney disease in adults, are:
- Diabetes. Diabetic kidney disease is a common complication of diabetes.
- High blood pressure. Untreated or poorly treated high blood pressure is a major cause of CKD. However, CKD can also cause high blood pressure, as the kidney has a role in blood pressure regulation. About nine out of ten people with CKD stages 3-5 have high blood pressure.
- Ageing kidneys. There appears to be an age-related decline in kidney function. About half of people aged 75 or more have some degree of CKD. In most of these cases, the CKD does not progress beyond the moderate stage unless other problems of the kidney, such as diabetic kidney disease, develop.
- Certain medications, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs lithium, ciclosporin and tacrolimus. If you are taking one of these medicines, you should have a blood test to check your kidney function at least once a year.
Other less common conditions that can cause chronic kidney disease include:
However, this list is not complete and there are many other causes.
Relieving Symptoms And Problems Caused By Chronic Kidney Disease
If chronic kidney disease becomes severe you may need treatment to combat various problems caused by the poor kidney function. For example:
- Anaemia may develop which may need treatment with iron or erythropoietin – a hormone normally made by the kidneys.
- Abnormal levels of calcium or phosphate in the blood may need treatment.
- You may be advised about how much fluid to drink, and how much salt to take.
- Other dietary advice may be given which can help to control factors such as the level of calcium and potassium in your body.
If end-stage kidney failure develops, you are likely to need kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.
People with stage 3 CKD or worse should be immunised against influenza each year, and have a one-off immunisation against pneumococcus. People with stage 4 CKD should be immunised against hepatitis B.
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Chronic Kidney Disease Is A Long
The following information is also available as a downloadable leaflet:Chronic kidney disease leaflet
If you’d like to order a hard copy please see ourleaflets and booklets page
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What is CKD?
Chronic kidney disease means that your kidneys do not work as well as they should. They cant remove waste products from your body. Damage to the kidneys filter system can also allow blood and protein to leak into the urine. This is not always visible but can be found with a urine test.
The term chronic means that it is a long-term condition. It does not necessarily mean your kidney damage is severe as many cases of CKD are mild and can be managed with help from your GP and without hospital involvement.
Think Kidneys – www.thinkkidneys.nhs.uk
How is CKD diagnosed?
Most people are diagnosed by a blood and urine test. You may have these tests as part of a routine check-up or because you are at risk of developing CKD
Once you are diagnosed your doctor will work out what stage of CKD you have. This is done by measuring the amount of creatinine, a waste product which builds up in kidney disease. Your doctors can use this to estimate how well your kidneys are working. You may hear this referred to as your estimated glomerular filtration rate . It is based on how quickly your kidneys are cleaning your blood and is measured in milliliters per minute
Is it common?
Preventing Or Slowing Down The Progression Of Chronic Kidney Disease
There are ways to stop chronic kidney disease becoming any worse or to slow down any progression. You should have checks every now and then by your GP or practice nurse to monitor your kidney function – the eGFR test. They will also give you treatment and advice on how to prevent or slow down the progression of CKD. This usually includes:
- Blood pressure control. The most important treatment to prevent or delay the progression of chronic kidney disease, whatever the underlying cause, is to keep your blood pressure well controlled. Most people with CKD will require medication to control their blood pressure. Depending on the amount of albumin in your urine, your doctor may recommend a target blood pressure level to aim for of below 140/90 mm Hg or 130/80 mm Hg, and even lower in some circumstances. For children and young people with CKD and high levels of albumin in the urine, blood pressure should be kept less than average for their height.
- Review of your medication. Certain medicines can affect the kidneys as a side-effect which can make CKD worse. For example, if you have CKD you should not take anti-inflammatory medicines unless advised to by a doctor. You may also need to adjust the dose of certain medicines that you may take if your CKD gets worse.
- Diet. if you have more advanced CKD then you will need to follow a special diet. See the separate leaflet called Diet in Chronic Kidney Disease.
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What Is Stage 3 Ckd
In Stage 3 CKD, your kidneys have mild to moderate damage, and they are less able to filter waste and fluid out of your blood. This waste can build up in your body and begin to harm other areas, such as to cause high blood pressure, anemia and problems with your bones. This buildup of waste is called uremia.
Stage 3 CKD is split into 2 sub-stages based on your eGFR:
Stage 3a means you have an eGFR between 45 and 59, and Stage 3b means you have an eGFR between 30 and 44.
What Is The Outlook For Chronic Kidney Disease
Stages 1-3 chronic kidney disease are common, with most cases occurring in older people. It tends to become gradually worse over months or years. However, the rate of progression varies from case to case, and often depends on the severity of any underlying condition. For example, some kidney conditions may cause your kidney function to become worse relatively quickly. However, in most cases, chronic kidney disease progresses only very slowly.
For many people with CKD there is a much higher risk of developing serious CVD than of developing end-stage kidney failure.
In short, the following can make a big difference to your outlook :
- Attention to blood pressure control.
- Careful review of medications to make sure that the only ones used are those which put least strain on kidneys.
- Tackling factors that reduce your risk of developing CVDs.
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How Can I Slow The Damage To My Kidneys
Damage to your kidneys cannot be reversed, but you can keep it from getting worse. By following your treatment plan and making healthy life changes, you can help keep your kidneys working for as long as possible.
Take these steps to slow the damage to your kidneys:
- Work with your doctor to manage diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Take all of your prescription medicines as your doctor tells you.
- Have visits with a kidney doctor to check your blood levels and overall health.
- Follow a kidney-friendly eating plan. A dietitian can help you make a plan that works for you.
- Be active for 30 minutes most days of the week.
- Drink less alcohol. The healthy guidelines for drinking alcohol are:
- For men: No more than two drinks per day
- For women: No more than one drink per day
Chronic Kidney Disease & Covid
Chronic kidney disease includes conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep you healthy by doing the jobs listed. If kidney disease gets worse, wastes can build to high levels in your blood and make you feel sick. You may develop complications like high blood pressure, anemia , weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage. Also, kidney disease increases your risk of having heart and blood vessel disease. These problems may happen slowly over a long period of time. Chronic kidney disease may be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and other disorders. Early detection and treatment can often keep chronic kidney disease from getting worse. When kidney disease progresses, it may eventually lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life.
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Delaying Or Halting Progression Of Chronic Kidney Disease
Measures indicated to delay or halt the progression of chronic kidney disease are as follows:
- Treatment of the underlying condition if possible
- Aggressive blood pressure control to target values per current guidelines
- Treatment of hyperlipidemia to target levels per current guidelines
- Aggressive glycemic control per the American Diabetes Association recommendations
- Avoidance of nephrotoxins, including intravenous radiocontrast media, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , and aminoglycosides
- Use of renin-angiotensin system blockers in patients with diabetic kidney disease and proteinuria
- Use of sodiumglucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors
- Use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers in patients with proteinuria
- Use of nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists
A prospective cohort study indicated that in patients with advanced CKD and stable hypertension, antihypertensive treatment with ACEIs or ARBs reduces the likelihood of long-term dialysis and lowers the mortality risk as well.
Treating Any Underlying Kidney Condition
There are various conditions that can cause CKD. For some of these there may be specific treatments for that particular condition – for example:
- Good blood sugar control for people with diabetes.
- Blood pressure control for people with high blood pressure.
- Antibiotic medication for people with recurring kidney infections.
- Surgery for people with a blockage to urine flow.
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How Is Chronic Kidney Disease Treated
There is no cure for chronic kidney disease , but steps may be taken in early CKD to preserve a higher level of kidney function for a longer period of time. If you have reduced kidney function:
- Make and keep your regular healthcare provider / nephrologist visits.
- Keep your blood sugar under control .
- Avoid taking painkillers and other medications that may make your kidney disease worse.
- Keep your blood pressure levels under control.
- Consult a dietitian regarding useful changes in diet. Dietary changes may include limiting protein, eating foods that reduce blood cholesterol levels, and limiting sodium and potassium intake.
- Exercise/be active on most days of the week.
- Stay at a healthy weight.
Stage 3 Kidney Disease Life Expectancy
When diagnosed and managed early, stage 3 CKD has a longer life expectancy than more advanced stages of kidney disease. Estimates can vary based on age and lifestyle.
One such estimate says that the average life expectancy is 24 years in men who are 40, and 28 in women of the same age group.
Aside from overall life expectancy, its important to consider your risk of disease progression. One 10-year study of stage 3 CKD patients found that about half progressed to more advanced stages of kidney disease.
Its also possible to experience complications from CKD, such as cardiovascular disease, which can affect your overall life expectancy.
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Who Are They For
This Kidney Disease Solution program is ideal for patients suffering from kidney problems who are limited in managing their kidney issues. If you have kidney problems, you may consider trying the program and see the positive impact it has for your overall health. For those in the advanced stages of kidney disease this program could potentially reverse the condition.
If you dont suffer from kidney problems, you might still want to try it out since almost everyone can benefit from tips as well as recipes and workouts included in the program. It doesnt only focus on improving kidney function but on improving lifestyle and diet for improved overall health. In the end prevention is always better than cure.
However, those with medical conditions should consult first with their doctor prior to taking the program. The program isnt suitable for pregnant women nursing mothers, or people under the age of 18 years old.