Chronic kidney disease
Overview
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term condition where the kidneys do not work as well as they should.
Symptoms
There are usually no symptoms of kidney disease in the early stages. It may only be diagnosed if you have a blood or urine test for another reason and the results show a possible problem with your kidneys. At a more advanced stage, symptoms can include: tirednessswollen ankles, feet or handsshortness of breathfeeling sickblood in your pee (urine) See a GP if you have persistent or worrying symptoms that you think could be caused by kidney disease. Find out more about thesymptoms of CKD.
Causes
Chronic kidney disease is usually caused by other conditions that put a strain on the kidneys. Often it's the result of a combination of different problems. CKD can be caused by: high blood pressure– over time, this can put strain on the small blood vessels in the kidneys and stop the kidneys working properlydiabetes– too much glucose in your blood can damage the tiny filters in the kidneyshigh cholesterol– this can cause a build-up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels supplying your kidneys, which can make it harder for them to work properlykidney infectionsglomerulonephritis– kidney inflammationautosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease– an inherited condition where growths called cysts develop in the kidneysblockages in the flow of urine – for example, fromkidney stonesthat keep coming back, or anenlarged prostatelong-term, regular use of certain medicines – such as lithium andnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) You can helpprevent CKDby making healthy lifestyle changes and ensuring any underlying conditions you have are well controlled.
Treatment
There's no cure for CKD, but treatment can help relieve the symptoms and stop it getting worse. Your treatment will depend on how severe your condition is. The main treatments are: lifestyle changes to help you remain as healthy as possiblemedicine to control associated problems such as high blood pressure and high cholesterolmedicine that can help the kidneys keep working for longerdialysis– treatment to replicate some of the kidney's functions (this may be necessary in advanced CKD)kidney transplant – this may also be necessary in advanced CKD You'll also be advised to have regular check-ups to monitor your condition. Find out more abouthow CKD is treatedandliving with CKD.