RISK FACTORS
Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease
According to the National Kidney Foundation, 35 million Americans have Chronic Kidney Disease and and most don’t even know it. Therefore you may already know someone affected by this disease. If left untreated, Chronic Kidney Disease can progress to kidney failure with need for dialysis or kidney transplant. As with most conditions, if detected early, kidney disease can be managed appropriately to limit the risk of leading to more complicated conditions.
Anyone can get kidney disease, but the risk is higher for those diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Other causes of kidney disease include: glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, lupus nephritis, and kidney cancer. Most diagnosed with kidney disease have multiple conditions and as the disease worsens additional complications can arise.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a hormonal condition where your body is not able to use insulin properly causing blood sugars to be high.
Over time the high blood sugars begin to damage small blood vessels, like those called glomeruli in the kidney. Once the glomeruli are damaged the kidneys are not able to filter blood normally, leading to kidney disease. According to the National Kidney Foundation, “about 30 percent of patients with Type 1 diabetes and 10 to 40 percent of those with Type 2 diabetes eventually will suffer from kidney failure.” Kidney disease caused by diabetes is called diabetic nephropathy.
If you have diabetes you are more likely to have kidney disease if you:
- Have unmanaged diabetes
- Smoke
- Have high blood pressure
- Have a family history of kidney disease
Kidney disease can be slowed with proper management of diabetes. The early stages of kidney disease shows no signs or symptoms, so it is important to manage your diabetes early with coordination from you care team. Some ways that may be used to slow the progression are:
- Control high blood sugars
- Control high blood pressure
- Manage cholesterol
- Meet with a dietitian
- Follow a proper diet
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Quit smoking
If you have diabetes and want to work with an educator to reduce the progression of kidney disease or understand your diagnosis better, reach out to your care team or the Association of Diabetes Care and Education services.
Blood Pressure
Did you know that 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure have Chronic Kidney Disease? High blood pressure, or hypertension, can put a strain on the body over a long period of time. Overtime, uncontrolled or chronic hypertension can cause the arteries around the kidneys to weaken, narrow, or harden. When these arteries that supply blood to the kidney get damaged the kidney is not able to get enough blood supply to the kidney to filter blood properly. This, over time leads to kidney disease and potentially, kidney failure.
Working with your care team early to manage uncontrolled high blood pressure will help reduce the risk of premature kidney disease. Your doctor can run blood and urine tests to check the health of your kidneys. Depending on your test results your doctor and care team may recommend some lifestyle changes such as exercise, quitting smoking, or eating a low sodium diet. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to control your high blood pressure you may be introduced to prescription medications that will help lower your blood pressure.
Heart Disease
Heart disease includes any condition that affects the proper blood flow of the heart. This includes a diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CAD), heart attack, or atrial fibrillation (Afib). Having heart disease can cause kidney disease, but also having kidney disease can cause heart disease. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in kidney disease patients. Therefore, it is best to prevent the conditions that lead to heart disease, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and anemia as well as follow your care plan to treat the condition if already diagnosed.
The common causes of heart disease is diabetes and high blood pressure, the same risks as kidney disease. Unmanaged diabetes weakens the blood vessels that transport blood to the heart and kidney. Overtime the damaged blood vessels will cause the heart and kidneys to weaken as blood supply is slowed from the weakened vessels. High blood pressure that is left untreated causes blood to pump faster and put more pressure on the blood vessel walls causing damage the longer it is left untreated. When the blood flow to the kidneys decreases a signal is sent to the heart to beat faster to supply more blood to the kidneys, thereby adding additional stress on the vessels and heart.
Other causes of heart disease are anemia, an improper balance of calcium and phosphorus, high homocysteine levels, and the build up of calcium.
Prevention
It’s important to know the risk factors so that you can take preventative actions. If you are at risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease talk with your doctor about your risk of kidney disease. In general, keeping yourself in good health with the following guidelines will help reduce your risk of kidney disease or slows its progression.
General guidelines for reducing the risk of kidney disease:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat a whole foods, balanced diet
- Be active most days of the week
- If you smoke, quit.
- Follow your medication schedule
- Follow up with your care team regularly
- Lower stress levels through calming activities
Each individual has their own unique needs and therefore it is best to consult with your medical care team with specific information and suggestions for reducing your risk of any chronic disease.