Discover available treatments and how to manage CKD effectively. Find information on kidney-related tests in Delhi.
Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, is an ongoing illness. The kidneys lose function slowly over time. Normally, healthy kidneys filter waste and excess fluid out of your blood. When your kidneys are hurt, filtering becomes less effective.
Waste byproducts may accumulate in the body. Fluid and electrolytes are lost. Many medical issues may result from this.
There are many causes of CKD. Some of them are high blood pressure and diabetes. Autoimmune disorders and genetic disorders also lead to it. Infection is another cause. Obesity or smoking can lead to it. Your risk is also increased when there is a family history of CKD.
Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
CKD is a chronic disease. Kidneys gradually become useless. That is, after many years, years. Kidneys work by removing waste and excess fluid from the blood. If it is injured, it is injured.
CKD is diagnosed if kidney function has decreased for three or more months. Physicians classify CKD into five stages. They do this based on the degree of kidney damage. They also do it based on how well kidneys filter waste.
The CKD patients won't feel any symptoms in the initial stages. At the advancement of the disease, symptoms are experienced such as swelling of ankles or legs and weakness. Urinary alteration and hematuria are also experienced.
Diabetes and hypertension are the significant causes of CKD. Other diseases are also responsible for CKD. They are infection, autoimmune disease, and genetic disease.
The Global Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease
CKD is a global condition. It afflicts millions worldwide.
More than 37 million American adults can potentially have CKD. The most likely risk group is men and women over 65 years.
CKD affects more particular racial and ethnic groups. They are Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americans.
Diabetes and hypertension are the typical culprits of CKD in third-world countries.
Smoking and obesity are another risk for CKD. Risk increases if there is a history of familial kidney disease. Infection and autoimmune disease are the other diseases at increased risk.
The economic burden of CKD is extremely high. It involves health spending and production loss. It also harms the quality of life.
Total expenditure on the treatment of CKD in the United States of America has ranged from billions of dollars annually.
Prevention and early detection of CKD are necessary. Prevention of conditions like diabetes and hypertension is advantageous. Screening of patients at risk is also highly advantageous.
How does chronic kidney disease impact the body?
CKD is an irreversible, chronic disease. CKD is characterized by slow loss of kidney function over time.
In CKD, there is damage to all the structures of the kidney. They are glomeruli, tubules, and interstitium.
Glomeruli are small blood vessels of the kidney. They sieve out excess water and waste from the blood. Damage inflicted on them by diabetes or hypertension may lead to protein in urine (proteinuria). Proteinuria is a very common manifestation of CKD.
Tubules are small tubules in kidneys. They take up the necessary substances from urine. Some of them are nutrients and electrolytes. Damage to tubules halts this process. This leads to acid-base disturbance and electrolyte imbalance and retention of waste products in the blood as well.
Interstitium is tissue beyond the glomeruli and tubules. It can be harmed by fibrosis and inflammation. This decreases the number of working nephrons. Nephrons are structural and functional nephron units of the kidney.
With progressively worse kidney injury, the kidneys don't filter wastes well. There is fluid buildup in the body. It has many signs and symptoms as well as effects. There is swelling and tiredness among them. There may be bone disease and electrolyte disorder.
CKD has a diverse etiology. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are two of them. Autoimmune and genetic disease fit in as well. Infection leads to CKD.
Identification of CKD Signs and Symptoms
CKD is symptom-free. No signs and symptoms until the disease is very advanced.
The most frequent signs and symptoms of CKD are:
- Weakness and fatigue
- Swelling of ankles and feet
- Change in urination (more or less)
- Foamy
- Blood in urine
- Increase in blood pressure
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss and loss of appetite
- Insomnia
- Dryness and pruritus
- Muscle spasm and twitches
- Shortness of breath
As CKD gets worse, fluid and waste accumulate. They may cause anemia and bone disease. They can develop later into cardiovascular disease and kidney failure.
Certain symptoms are secondary to another disease. You should go see a physician if you feel such symptoms. Particularly if you have risk factors such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Treatments done early and correctly will slow down CKD progression. It also lessens complications.
How do physicians diagnose chronic kidney disease?
CKD is diagnosed in stages. They are:
- Medical history: Your history and symptoms will be asked by the physician. He will also ask about family history and medicines.
- Physical examination: The physician will check for signs of kidney disease. They are swelling and hypertension.
- Lab studies: They conduct urine and blood tests. They check for kidney function and protein or blood in the urine. They check for other abnormalities as well.
- Studies with imaging: They use ultrasound, CT, or MRI. They check for size and shape of the kidneys. They also check for abnormalities.
- Biopsy: A kidney biopsy will eventually be necessary. This makes the diagnosis and reveals the cause of kidney damage.
All other kidney related tests that are done at Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre-
- Blood tests (Book Now)
- Urine tests (Book Now)
- Urinary Obstruction (Book Now)
- Hyperglycemia (Book Now)
- Kidney Stone Formation Diagnostic Panel (Book Now)
- Bleeding Thrombosis Package (Book Now)
Potential Complications of Chronic Kidney Disease
CKD does have some complications. It is particularly so if it is poorly controlled. It is more common in advanced disease too.
Some of the common CKD complications are:
- Cardiovascular disease: CKD is an independent risk factor for stroke and heart attack.
- Anemia: CKD can lead to a decrease in red blood cell production, and hence weakness and fatigue.
- Bone disease: CKD can change bone metabolism to cause fractures.
- Electrolyte imbalance: Arrhythmias and muscle weakness can be caused by electrolyte imbalance of sodium, potassium, and calcium.
- Fluid overload: Edema and shortness of breath follow fluid overload.
- Malnutrition: Malnutrition and weight loss can be caused by loss of appetite.
- Cognitive impairment: CKD is associated with dementia risk and memory impairment.
- Kidney failure: Transplant or dialysis may be needed for end-stage CKD.
Management of Chronic Kidney Disease
CKD will be complicated-, cause-, and stage-directed. Treatment aims are to slow the rate of disease, to alleviate symptoms, and to avoid complications.
Amongst those which can be prescribed are:
- Drugs: These control hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol. Bone disease and anemia can be controlled too.
- Dietary modifications: Restriction of sodium and protein, quitting smoking, and exercise are required. Stress management is fine too.
- Dialysis: Toxins and excess fluid in the blood are filtered out when kidneys are not working. Hemodialysis is performed with a machine. Peritoneal dialysis is performed with the lining of the abdomen.
- Kidney transplant: Surgical removal of the diseased kidney and replacement with a healthy one from another person. It is generally done for renal failure or end-stage CKD.
- Treatment of complications: Individual treatment of complicated anemia, bone disease, and cardiovascular disease.
Conclusion
CKD is a chronic condition. CKD can lead to many complications if not controlled. The management includes medicine, dietary modification, dialysis, and transplantation. The underlying etiology for CKD also needs to be controlled. With proper control, CKD patients are usually able to slow the disease and lead a good life. Awareness and education are the pillars for prevention of progression of CKD.
People May Ask
Q. What is the full form of CKD?
The full form of CKD is Chronic Kidney Diseases.
Q. How to book CKD tests online?
You can book your appointment for CKD tests at Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre, best imaging centre in Delhi.
Q. What is the cost of CKD tests in Delhi, NCR?
The cost of CKD test ranges between 10,000 INR to 15,000 INR in Delhi, NCR.
