Living with CKD

 

For people over age 75, the odds of developing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) are better than 50%. It can develop at any age though and about 1 in 10 people under age 70 already have some degree of CKD. Kidney function normally begins to degrade by about 1% per year after age 40 and conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease can cause more rapid decline.

CKD has varying levels of seriousness. It usually gets worse over time though treatment has been shown to slow progression. About 37 million US adults are estimated to have CKD, and most are undiagnosed. If left untreated, CKD can progress to kidney failure and early cardiovascular disease. When the kidneys stop working, dialysis or kidney transplant is needed for survival. Kidney failure treated with dialysis or kidney transplant is called end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

We have already discussed four steps that you can take to lower the odds of developing CKD. But what if it is too late? What if you are diagnosed with CKD? Don't panic!

If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), you can take steps to protect your kidneys from additional damage. The sooner you know you have kidney disease, the better. Making these changes when you have no symptoms may be hard, but it’s worthwhile and you may very well be able to stay healthy and keep CKD from progressing.

The most important steps are controlling your blood sugar and blood pressure. If you are diabetic, manage your condition carefully. Do whatever you need to do to keep your daily intake of sodium at or below 2,300mg. That is not easy but it can be done. Your kidneys have to work very hard to process excess sodium.

Many people with CKD also develop high blood levels of potassium and phosphate. Make sure you are tested and, if necessary, limit potassium in your diet. Phosphates can be controlled with medication.

If you are using blood pressure medication do not stop. But do speak with your doctor about which medication is most appropriate for you. If you need occasional pain relief, stick with Tylenol or generic acetaminophen.

Finally, get on your feet and exercise regularly, if not every day. In a 2019 study, people who did aerobic and strength training 3 times a week reported improvement in kidney function and lessening of CKD symptoms.

You will have to take charge of things and act, but following a lifestyle treatment plan can pay big benefits. "Patients can remain stable for decades and most will never need dialysis," says Dr Richard Glassock of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.