What is Kidney Disease?
Explore this section to learn more about chronic kidney disease (CKD). You will find that CKD, which can happen at any age, can have both common and rare causes. Learn about the symptoms, some of which may not show up until a later stage of the disease.
Role of Kidneys
Kidneys are very important organs that have many jobs. They not only remove extra fluids and waste products, but they also help to regulate blood pressure, balance chemicals, maintain bone health, and keep us from becoming anemic.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Nephrons
Nephron
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs when kidney nephrons are damaged. Each kidney has about a million tiny filters called nephrons. A nephron is made up of a glomerulus and tubules. The nephrons filter blood. When they become damaged, the kidney becomes less efficient. Over time, as fewer nephrons are available to clean the blood, the kidneys are diseased and less able to keep the body healthy.
Silent Killer
Like diabetes and high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease is called a “silent killer” because there are few symptoms and by the time individuals realize they have a problem, much damage has already been done.
A blood or urine test can tell you how well your kidneys are functioning.
However, there are two tests that can tell you how well your kidneys are functioning. They may be included in the your annual physical evaluation, or you can ask your physician to do them. One is a urine test called ACR (albumin-to-creatinine ratio), which tells how much protein is in your urine. Usually protein is in the blood, and when it is in the urine, it may be a sign of early kidney disease.
The other is a blood test and it tells how much creatinine, a waste product that comes from muscle tissue, is in your blood. From that test, your GFR (glomerular filtration rate) can be estimated which includes your age, race, and sex.
As your kidney function declines, waste products and excess fluid build up in the blood and can make you feel sick.
Related Information
Wellness and Mental Health While Living with Rare Disease
By Maya Doyle, MSW, PhD Cystinosis is a rare lysosomal storage disorder (1) that is typically diagnosed in childhood and typically results in kidney failure and progression to dialysis and/or kidney transplant. [...]
My Experience as a Kidney Patient in CKD, Dialysis, and Transplant
By Orlando A. Torres After a 30-year battle with chronic kidney disease (CKD), in 2016 I had Stage Five kidney failure. This was the end of a three-decade battle which took countless hours [...]
Chronic Kidney Disease and Hyperkalemia: What You Need to Know About High Potassium!
By Sue Hellie The challenges faced this past year have redefined what it means to live with chronic kidney disease (CKD). People living with kidney disease and other severe chronic conditions are at higher risk [...]
Better Late than Never: Genetic Diagnosis After Major Medical Events
By Dawn Laney, MS You have two doctors for your kidneys, one for your heart, one for your head, one for your eyes, and one for your overall health. You are tested, biopsied, and imaged [...]
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
By Mirjana Dimitrijevic, M.D. and Keith A. Bellovich, DO There are two major forms of PKD: autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). ARPKD is uncommon and is typically [...]
Cystinosis: A Rare and Under-Recognized Cause of Kidney Failure
By Ladan Golestaneh, MD, MS What is Cystinosis? Cystinosis, or Nephropathic Cystinosis, is a rare genetic disease that affects boys and girls equally and causes a defect in the way that lysosomes (small organelles in [...]
English
العربية
简体中文
Nederlands
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
Bahasa Melayu
Português
Русский
Español