Did you know that kidney disease is a disease that often develops silently, without any symptoms? Many people do not notice any symptoms at first. That is why 90% of people with Chronic Kidney Disease do not even know that they have it. But if we are aware of this silent disease and recognize its warning signs, we can get a diagnosis and treatment early, and avoid major health problems. So let's talk about this silent enemy today.
What exactly is kidney disease?
Okay, first let's see what these kidneys are and what they do. These are two small organs on either side of your spine, about the size of two beans. Although they are small, they do a big job. Simply put, their main job is to filter out the unnecessary water and waste products in our blood and make urine. They also help control your blood pressure. So, when something is damaged in these kidneys and they don't work properly, we call them kidney disease.
What are the risk factors that affect this?
Certain things increase the risk of developing kidney disease. Let's take a look at what they are:
- Diabetes: This is the leading cause of kidney disease in Sri Lanka and around the world. When blood sugar levels remain high for a long time, the delicate blood vessels in the kidneys are damaged.
- High Blood Pressure: If the pressure is not controlled, the blood vessels that supply blood to the kidneys will be damaged, reducing kidney function.
- Heart Disease: There is a strong connection between the heart and the kidneys. If there is a disease in the heart, it can affect the kidneys, and if there is a disease in the kidneys, it can affect the heart.
- Smoking: Smoking can reduce blood flow to the kidneys, which further increases kidney damage.
- Obesity: Excess body weight puts a strain on the kidneys. This increases the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Aging: Kidney function naturally declines as we age.
The most important thing is that if you have one or more of these risk factors, it is very important to have your kidneys checked periodically, even if you have no symptoms.
What symptoms should we look out for?
As kidney disease worsens over time, waste products and unnecessary fluids start to accumulate in our bodies. Then, these symptoms may appear. Be careful about these.
| Symptom | What does that mean? (What it could mean) |
|---|---|
| Changes in urine | Passing more or less urine than usual. Urine that changes color or becomes foamy. This foam is caused by protein leaking from the kidneys. Blood in the urine is also a serious symptom. |
| Dry and itchy skin | This can happen when your kidneys are unable to balance the minerals and nutrients in your blood. |
| Swelling | The kidneys control the amount of sodium, or salt, in the body. When the kidneys are weak, salt builds up in the body, causing swelling in the ankles and feet. Sometimes, swelling can also occur in the hands and around the eyes. |
| Stomach upset and loss of appetite | Waste products (such as urea) that accumulate in the blood can cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. |
| Fatigue | The kidneys produce a hormone (Erythropoietin) that is needed by our body to make red blood cells. When the kidneys are weak, this function does not work properly. This results in a condition called anemia. Symptoms of this include feeling tired even after sleeping well and having trouble sleeping. |
How to diagnose the disease?
If you think you are at risk of developing kidney disease, or if you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, the best thing to do is to see your doctor.Meet and get advice. He will examine you and order several tests to check your kidney function. This involves two main tests: a urine test and a blood test.
Urine Test
In this test, a sample of your urine is taken and checked for blood. It also checks for a protein called albumin. Healthy kidneys do not excrete this protein in the urine. The presence of albumin in the urine may indicate that there is some damage to the kidneys.
Blood Test
This mainly looks at the level of a waste product called 'creatinine' in the blood. Creatinine is a waste product produced by our muscles. Healthy kidneys filter it out. If the kidneys are damaged, it is difficult to remove this creatinine from the blood. Then the creatinine level in the blood increases. So, by matching the creatinine level in the blood with your age and gender, the doctor can measure how well your kidneys are working (Glomerular Filtration Rate - GFR).
How is it treated?
Once kidney disease develops, it rarely goes away completely. The condition can get progressively worse over time. That's why we say it's important to diagnose the disease as early as possible. Early treatment can prevent or delay kidney failure.
There is no 'one size fits all' treatment for this. Treatment depends on several factors, including what caused your kidney disease. Your doctor will first prescribe medications to control your existing conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. In addition, they will also prescribe medications to treat symptoms caused by kidney disease, such as anemia or swelling.
Lifestyle changes are very important!
Like medication, simple changes in our lifestyle can go a long way in protecting our kidneys.
- Exercise and maintain a healthy weight. This is very important.
- Reduce your intake of protein and salt to reduce the strain on your kidneys. Consult your doctor or a nutritionist about this.
- If you drink alcohol, control it.
- If you are a smoker, this is the best time to quit.
- Do not use over-the-counter painkillers, especially NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) (e.g. Ibuprofen, Diclofenac). These are very harmful to the kidneys. Ask your doctor before taking any medication.
Our main goal is to keep your kidneys working as well as possible for as long as possible. If someone has completely failed kidneys, they will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.
Take-Home Message
- Kidney disease often doesn't show any symptoms in its early stages, so if you have risk factors (diabetes, high blood pressure), get regular medical checkups.
- Be aware of symptoms like changes in urine, swelling, frequent fatigue, and itchy skin. Don't ignore these.
- Early detection of the disease can prevent or delay complete kidney failure.
- Simple lifestyle changes (good diet, exercise, and quitting smoking) can go a long way in protecting your kidneys.
- Always consult your doctor before using any medication, especially painkillers.
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