Preventing Chronic Kidney Disease
What Is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?
Chronic kidney disease occurs when the kidneys gradually lose their ability to properly filter waste and excess salt from the blood.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of chronic kidney disease, but heart disease, obesity and family history can also increase your risk.
Without treatment, CKD can progress to kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease.
Risk Factors for CKD
Common risk factors of CKD include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Family history of kidney disease
- Age over 60
- Poor diet and inactivity
Many of these conditions are connected. Managing your overall heart, metabolic and vascular health can help protect your kidneys.
Learn more about how the University Health Kidney Care Center is providing comprehensive care for cardio-kidney-metabolic conditions under one roof.
Signs and Symptoms of CKD
CKD often has no noticeable symptoms early on, but high blood pressure can be one of the earliest warning signs.
As your kidney functions worsen, signs include:
- Swelling in the face, hands, ankles or feet
- Fatigue or weakness
- Changes in urination (foamy urine, more frequent)
- Muscle cramps
- Changes in appetite (loss or altered taste)
Because symptoms may not appear until kidney damage has progressed, routine testing with your doctor is important. If you are considered high-risk for CKD, annual blood (eGFR) and urine (ACR) testing is recommended.
How to Prevent Chronic Kidney Disease
CKD can often be prevented or slowed with early detection and healthy lifestyle changes.
Check Your Health
Your heart, kidneys and metabolism work together to keep your body healthy.
Take one of our quick health risk assessments to better understand your risk for chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Request an Appointment
Schedule an appointment with one of our primary care providers to start protecting your kidney health.
Manage diabetes and blood pressure
Keeping blood sugar and blood pressure under control can help reduce stress on the kidneys.
Stay active and maintain a healthy weight
Regular physical activity supports heart, kidney and metabolic health.
It’s recommended that individuals get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week.
Eat for kidney health
Limit sodium, processed foods and sugary drinks while focusing on a balanced nutrition that supports kidney health.
Stay hydrated
Replacing soda and sugary beverages with water may help support kidney function.
You can learn how much water you should be drinking in our HealthFocus SA blog.
Avoid smoking
Smoking damages blood vessels and can worsen kidney disease.
Learn more about how University Health can help you quit smoking.
Get regular checkups
Regular checkups with your primary care provider (PCP) can help you catch kidney disease before symptoms appear. Talk to your PCP about your concerns and ask for blood and urine tests for CKD.
Need a PCP? Find a doctor near you.
