Kidney Disease Information - What You Need To Know

Each year more people receive a chronic kidney disease diagnosis. This disease has become a global epidemic. It's important to know as much as you can to prevent developing kidney problems and protect your overall health.

Chronic kidney disease develops slowly over time causing irreversible damage to your kidneys. Currently there is no orthodox cure for CKD, which prevents your kidneys from properly filtering waste products and excess fluid from your blood.

The main kidney structures attacked by kidney disease are the glomeruli or glomerular capillaries. These are tiny blood vessels in the kidney nephrons that filter the blood so that toxins and fluids can be excreted into the urine.

Chronic kidney disease is the most common type of kidney disease. It is most often caused by diabetes or hypertension; however there can be many other causes. Acute kidney disease occurs over a short period of time as the result of an injury, infection or toxin. Some types are congenital — they're inherited from a parent and are present at birth - for example Polycystic Kidney Disease.

As indicated, diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes CKD. However, other diseases play a role such as systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, Alport's syndrome, IgA nephropathy, and kidney infections such as pyelonephritis. It may also be caused by cancers or kidney stones.

The sooner kidney disease is detected the more effective treatment will be. Proven natural remedies help improve kidney function, and can help control any risk factors (e.g. high blood pressure and high glucose levels) that may exacerbate the condition. The natural approach also places major emphasis on diet, such as lowering salt, potassium, and phosphorus intake, specific protein requirements depending on your stage of kidney disease, and introducing exercise and stress reduction activities.

You may also need to take medications called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors). On like herbs, these medications cannot reverse kidney damage that has already occurred, but can prevent further damage effectively.

Kidney disease has five stages Each stage of kidney disease refers to a level of damage to your kidneys. Symptoms vary depending on the stage of your kidney disease. In stage 1 there are usually no symptoms. By stage 2 you may start to leak small amounts of protein in your urine (microalbuminuria). By stage 3 there is moderate damage to your kidneys and more symptoms occur, such as high blood pressure and higher levels of urea in your blood. Stage 4 kidney disease, also called advanced clinical nephropathy, signals severe kidney damage. You develop additional symptoms such as fatigue, swelling, nausea, vomiting, anemia, and a metallic taste in your mouth. Stage 5 goes by several terms - end-stage kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, or kidney failure. At this stage dialysis or a kidney transplant is necessary.

If you have chronic kidney disease you are more prone to several health complications that increase your risk of premature death. These include high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases including heart attack, stroke, and aneurysms.

It's essential to adopt a treatment regimen early to avoid these complications, whether it is western medicine or natural medicine, either way you'll be doing your body, and yourself of great service. You'll delay or prevent further kidney damage and improve your overall quality of life.