Receiving a new diagnosis of any disease can leave you with a lot of questions such as the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the condition. But a lot of times, the most basic question needs to be answered. In this case, “what is chronic kidney disease?” If you or a family member have that question, we hope the following information will be helpful.
Although chronic kidney disease is a common medical condition that can affect patients of all ages, it is most common in older people and presents as a combination of other medical problems that cause your kidneys to stop functioning correctly. Unfortunately, when a patient is in the early stages of the disease, they may not experience any symptoms. But in the advanced stages, they may experience blood in their urine, headaches, muscle cramps, insomnia, shortness of breath, a general feeling of malaise, and swollen feet, hands, or ankles.
Regular tests for the condition are recommended if you have a family history of the condition, an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, cardiovascular disease, acute kidney injury, high blood pressure, or diabetes. The disease is broken down into five stages – Stage 1 through Stage 5 – with Stage 5 being a renal failure.
The condition is typically a secondary response to a medical condition which puts a strain on a patient’s kidneys. The most common causes include kidney infections, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney inflammation, a blockage in the flow of urine, and long-term use of certain medications.
To remain as healthy as possible, it’s important that you stop smoking, eat a healthy diet, and take part in regular exercise. You’ll also need to restrict your salt intake to less than 6g per day and limit your alcohol intake to that which your physician has recommended.
If you’re searching for an “internal medicine doctor near me in Germantown, MD” that can diagnose and treat kidney disease, Germantown Primary Healthcare provides chronic kidney disease treatment near you. Treatments include medication, dialysis, recommendations for lifestyle changes for patients living with chronic kidney disease, and counseling for a kidney transplant if your condition is in an advanced stage.
