1. Chronic Vs. Acute
A chronic disease is one we often "learn to live with", where the disease can become part of our daily life. We learn to manage the disease with medications, diet, exercise and lifestyle modification. A chronic disease does not necessarily progress to a more severe form, especially if it's diagnosed and treated early in the disease process. An acute disease is a sudden bout of the disease; it may or may not lead to a chronic disease.
2. Many Diseases With the Same Name
Chronic kidney disease is the name given to impaired kidney function over a period of years. Chronic kidney disease is not a disease that stands alone, but is instead a result of other diseases. Diabetes, hypertension, physical obstructions, birth defects and immune disorders cause chronic kidney disease. The risk of chronic kidney disease is higher if there is a family history or if you have frequent urinary tract infections. Glomerulonephritis, a kidney disease that causes inflammation and damage to the kidney's filtering ability, also causes chronic kidney disease. The excessive use of over-the-counter NSAIDs has been linked to kidney disease.
3. Symptoms of Kidney Disease
The symptoms of kidney disease can mimic other less serious disease, so don't diagnose yourself based on the symptoms. If you have swelling around your eyes, especially in the morning, tell your doctor. Other symptoms of chronic kidney disease include decreased urine output but a frequent urge to go, swelling of hands and ankles, generalized itching, fatigue and difficulty concentrating. If you experience these symptoms, talk to your doctor and get treatment early.
4. For Those at Risk
Blood and urine tests are done for suspected cases of chronic kidney disease. After the blood work and labs have been done, your doctor will run a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to determine how advanced the chronic kidney disease is. The GFR is done using a calculator and it takes into account your lab work, race, age and sex. African Americans are at a high risk for chronic kidney disease, as are the elderly, Native Americans and those of Asian descent.
5. Tried and True Treatments
Managing chronic kidney disease depends on how severe your disease is and the results of frequent testing. If left untreated, chronic kidney disease may require dialysis or a kidney transplant. The key is to catch kidney disease as early as possible and start treatments right away to prevent those complications leading to dialysis or transplant. Treatment for chronic kidney disease includes diet modifications that restricts your daily intake of protein, sodium and potassium. Medications often prescribed include diuretics to reduce fluid retention and blood pressure medication for hypertension. Cholesterol-lowering drugs are prescribed if cholesterol readings are high and diabetes is controlled through medications and diet. Chronic kidney disease requires regular visits to your doctor to avoid serious complications.
