Kidney disease is a condition that affects the kidneys, which are fist-sized organs shaped like a bean. We’re born with two and they’re located above the waist at opposite sides of the spine. Their job is to clean your blood of toxins and excess water, turning it into urine. Kidney disease damages these organs, reducing their ability to do their job as well as they should. We’ll cover everything about this condition, from what it is, to the symptoms and treatment of kidney disease, and more. You can also share your own experiences with kidney disease with us at Carecircle, and let others know how you manage your condition.

What is kidney disease?

Kidney disease is where there is damage to the kidneys, which reduces the organs’ ability to filter your blood of toxins and excess water. The condition is more common in our older years, with the other main risk factors for kidney disease including:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Heart disease
• Smoking
• Family history of the condition

Types of Kidney Disease

There are 2 main types of kidney disease: chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI), also known as acute renal failure (ARF). CKD is a long-lasting condition, whereas AKI is short-term.

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) – typically lasts more than 3 months. It is the result of irreversible damage to the kidneys. With treatment, many of those living with CKD can lead regular, long lives.
• Acute kidney injury (AKI) – typically lasts less than 3 months. It is where the kidneys suddenly and temporarily stop working as well as they should. This can be caused by a range of things, such as injury to the kidneys, an illness that affects the kidneys, drugs, or blockages.

Kidney Disease Stages

Chronic kidney disease is categorised into 5 stages that depend on how well the kidneys’ function. Each stage is based on your estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) – which measures your kidney function levels.

Kidney Disease Stage 1

Stage 1 kidney disease has a normal eGFR above 90. The kidneys still perform well at this stage, so there may not be any symptoms showing. Usually, CKD at this level is diagnosed because the patient has a family history of kidney disease, or they’re being treated for high blood pressure or diabetes.

Kidney Disease Stage 2

Stage 2 kidney disease has a slightly reduced eGFR of 60 to 89, but other tests show signs of damage. Whilst not at 100%, the kidneys still perform well. Again, like stage 1 you may display few or no symptoms at all of kidney disease. It is also often diagnosed following treatment for high blood pressure and diabetes, and for those with a family history of the condition.

Kidney Disease Stage 3

Stage 3 kidney disease is separated further into stage 3a – with an eGFR of 45 to 59 – and stage 3b, with an eGFR of 30 to 44. CKD at this level is a sign of moderate kidney damage, with the patient showing symptoms of the condition (which we’ll discuss further shortly below).

Kidney Disease Stage 4

Stage 4 kidney disease has an eGFR of 15 to 29. This indicates severe kidney damage. A patient at this level of CKD will soon require dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Kidney Disease Stage 5

Stage 5 kidney disease – also known as end-stage renal disease – has an eGFR below 15. At this advanced level of CKD, the kidneys have lost most of their ability to function. A patient will require dialysis or a kidney transplant to live.

Kidney Disease symptoms

Kidney disease has a wide range of symptoms to look out for. These are often more prominent in later stages of CKD.

• Weight loss and loss of appetite
• Feeling sick and vomiting
• Producing little or no urine
• Increased need to urinate at night
• Blood in the urine
• Headaches
• Feeling tired
• Short of breath
• Tingling in hands or feet
• Swollen ankles, feet, or hands
• Swelling around the eyes
• Muscle cramps
• Lack of concentration
• Itchy skin
• Difficulty sleeping
• Changes in skin colour
• Difficulty in getting an erection

Early signs of kidney disease

At an early stage of kidney disease, you might display few or no symptoms at all. That’s because the kidneys can still work well even at a reduced level. However, some early signs of kidney disease to look out for include:

• Frequently feeling tired
• Poor sleep
• Itchy, dry skin
• Puffy face
• Swollen hands and feet
• Bad breath
• Feeling breathless
• Brown, foamy urine
• Headaches and/or a dizzy, foggy head
• Muscle cramps
• A lack of appetite

What causes kidney disease?

The two different types of kidney disease, both have different causes. Acute kidney injury (AKI) can be caused by:

• Injury to the kidneys
• An illness that can affect the kidneys, such as sepsis
• Medications, such as chemotherapy drugs
• Urine blockages, from blood clots, kidney stones, or cancer.
• Reduced blood flow – from excessive bleeding, vomiting, diarrhoea, or dehydration – (which is one of the main causes of AKI)

The main causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are diabetes and high blood pressure. Other causes include:

• Glomerular disease – a condition that affects the tiny filters (glomeruli) within your kidneys
• Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) – a condition that causes a build-up of cysts in the kidneys

How is kidney disease diagnosed?

Kidney disease is diagnosed by the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) blood test that we touched upon in the kidney disease stages section. This test measures a waste product known as creatinine. It is used as a marker to estimate the stage of kidney disease, because the worse the kidneys’ function, the higher the creatinine levels are in the blood.

Another test is also performed to check the levels of creatinine and albumin in your urine, known as the albumin: creatinine ratio (ACR). Albumin is a protein found in the blood – if your kidneys are healthy, they won’t allow this protein into the urine. However, with kidney disease albumin is able to pass into the urine. Again, the worse the kidneys perform, the higher the albumin levels are in the urine.

These two kidney function tests help build a more accurate picture of how well the kidneys are doing their job. In addition, there are further tests than can show what the kidneys look like and whether there are any blockages or damage. These include:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan
• An ultrasound scan
• A kidney biopsy (taking a small sample of the tissue to examine the cells for damage)

What to do if you have kidney disease?

Always see a doctor if you show symptoms of kidney disease to get a professional diagnosis and treatment. If you have kidney disease, you might be able to gain control over your diagnosis by:

• Eating healthily and exercising regularly (at least 150 minutes a week)
• Taking your prescribed medicines
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Stopping smoking
• Limiting your alcohol intake (to 14 units or less per week)
• Restricting your salt intake (to less than 1 teaspoon per day)
• Avoiding non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, which can affect kidney function (unless, of course, these have been prescribed by your doctor)

Become part of our global health revolution at Carecircle and find support from others living with kidney disease. Share your experiences with the condition and share your story. Because together, we can help each other into a new tomorrow.

Kidney disease Treatment

There isn’t a medicine that directly treats kidney disease. However, there are medicines that can treat some of the causes behind the condition, as well as some of the symptoms. These include:

• Medicines to lower blood pressure – your doctor may prescribe angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to lower blood pressure in order to maintain kidney function.
• Medicines to lower cholesterol – people with CKD often have high cholesterol and may need statins to lower it in order to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Medicines to relieve swelling – diuretics can be prescribed to keep the body’s fluids in balance.
• Medicines for anaemia – late-stage CKD patients are at risk of developing anaemia (a lack of red blood cells). This can be treated with erythropoietin injections – a hormone which helps the body produce more red blood cells. In addition, iron supplements can be taken for an iron deficiency.
• Colecalciferol or ergocalciferol supplements to boost vitamin D levels in order to maintain strong and healthy bones. These supplements can be needed because severe kidney damage can lead to the weakening of bones due to an excess of phosphate in the body.
• Steroid to treat glomerulonephritis – glomerulonephritis is a type of kidney disease caused by inflammation of the glomeruli (filters) in the kidney. This condition can be caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the kidneys. These medicines reduce the activity of the immune system, reducing inflammation.

Severe kidney disease can also be treated by dialysis, which removes extra fluid and waste products from your blood. There are two types of dialysis:

• Haemodialysis is where the blood is filtered through a machine and returned to the body
• Peritoneal dialysis involves a thin tube being inserted into your abdomen, where a dialysis fluid is pumped inside in order to draw out waste products from the blood

Kidney transplant is also an effective treatment for severe kidney disease. This involves major surgery, removing the damaged kidney and replacing it with a healthy one from a donor. Following a transplant, immunosuppressant medicines must be taken for life to stop the body from rejecting the organ. Whilst there can be a long waiting list for a donor, survival rates following a kidney transplant are high.

Join a worldwide community for health at Carecircle and find support from others living with kidney disease. Share your personal experiences with the condition, so together we can support one another into a better tomorrow.

Kidney Disease FAQs

Here, we answer all your frequently asked questions on kidney disease. We get to the point and answer your queries directly, so you can get the health information you need in an instant.

When to worry about creatinine levels?

Typically, creatinine levels in healthy adults range from 0.6-1.4 mg/dl. Above 1.2 mg/dl for women and 1.4 mg/dl for men can be an early sign that the kidneys are not working as well as they should. Above 5 mg/dl can be a sign of serious kidney disease in adults.

How to improve kidney function?

There are things you can do to maintain healthy kidneys and improve their function. You can:

• Eat healthily
• Exercise regularly
• Achieve a healthy weight
• Stop smoking
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Reduce your stress levels (through activities such as yoga)
• Get plenty of sleep

How to check kidney function at home?

There are a wide range of kidney function tests that you can do at home, such as the one offered by healthy.io (trusted by the NHS). Typically, these involve collecting a urine sample to measure the ACR (albumin: to creatinine ratio), with fast results provided then and there by a Smartphone app.

What is the first sign of kidney problems?

Early stages of kidney disease can display few to no symptoms at all. However, there are 3 early warning signs of kidney problems. These include:

• Swelling around the ankles, feet, wrists, hands, or eyes (oedema)
• Always feeling tired and fatigued
• Foamy, brown (or red-coloured) urine

What foods help repair kidneys?

Eating a well-balanced, low-sodium diet could help to prevent and slow the progression of kidney disease. Some foods that are known to be beneficial include:

• Root vegetables, such as beetroot, onions, carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes
• Broccoli and cauliflower
• Apples, blueberries, red grapes, and strawberries
• Nuts and seeds
• Beans, such as kidney beans and black beans
• Garlic, herbs, and spices
• Olive oil
• Radish
• Sea bass
• Egg whites

How to prevent kidney failure?

To prevent kidney failure and kidney disease in general, aim to lead a healthy life by eating a well-balanced diet and exercising regularly every week. You should also try to:

• Maintain a healthy body weight
• Don’t smoke
• Reduce alcohol intake
• Reduce salt intake
• Cut down on high sugars and processed foods
• Reduce your stress levels to lower blood pressure
• Limit the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – such as ibuprofen and aspirin – which can affect kidney function

Does alcohol affect kidneys?

Yes, alcohol does affect the kidneys. It makes it harder for the organs to filter blood.

Do you have a question about kidney disease you need answering? Join the conversation at Carecircle for free and become part of our supportive community, where you can talk with others living with kidney disease and ask us further questions on the condition.

Kidney Disease Resources

Below are some additional resources about kidney disease, which patients, carers, and interested individuals may wish to review. At Carecircle, we’ll always point you in the right direction towards further information that could bring greater help, hope, and control.

• Davita Kidney Care
• Kidney.org
• National Kidney Disease Education Program
• CDC – Chronic Kidney Disease Initiative
• Kidney Care UK
• Kidney Care UK – Booklets
• Kidney Foundation Canada
• American Kidney Fund
• National Kidney Federation UK
• Support Groups for Kidney Disease Patients
• Rogosin Institute – Kidney Disease Resources
• Healthy.io – Kidney

Kidney disease can be a serious condition. If you show any symptoms, please visit your doctor to get a professional diagnosis and to get the right treatment. For those living with kidney disease, it can also be helpful to be part of a support group where you can discuss your health experiences and challenges in order to gain control of your diagnosis. And during your journey, we at Carecircle are always here whenever you need additional information, help, and hope.

To comment, react, ask questions, or receive support from others living with kidney disease, join Carecircle today for free. Become part of a global community for health and share your story.

Guide Sources

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/
• https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/about-chronic-kidney-disease
• https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease
• https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-kidney-disease-basic-information
• https://kidney.org.au/your-kidneys/what-is-kidney-disease/types-of-kidney-disease
• https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/kidney-health-information/stages-of-kidney-disease/
• https://www.kidneywales.cymru/about-kidney-disease/what-is-kidney-disease/stages-chronic-kidney-disease/
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354521
• https://www.davita.com/education/kidney-disease/stages/what-is-end-stage-renal-disease
• https://www.freseniuskidneycare.com/kidney-disease/ckd/causes
• https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-kidney-warning-signs
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20369048
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-foods-for-kidneys#Diet-and-kidney-disease
• https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/prevention
• https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/tests-diagnosis
• https://www.healthline.com/health/kidney-function-tests#procedures
• https://prinehealth.com/3-warning-signs-that-you-may-be-experiencing-kidney-failure/
• https://www.emedicinehealth.com/creatinine_blood_tests/article_em.htm
• https://www.healthline.com/health/kidney-health/how-to-prevent-kidney-failure#11-tips
• https://www.kidney.org/content/7-kidney-friendly-superfoods