Your kidneys perform an important function in your body. All the blood in your body passes through your kidneys several times a day. Your kidneys filter your blood and remove waste, and salt, water, and minerals are adjusted if needed.
Kidney disease, also called chronic kidney failure, is the gradual loss of this key kidney function. If your kidneys are damaged, dangerous levels of fluid and wastes can build up in your body and lead to heart problems, an increased risk of other diseases. Irreversible kidney damage may cause you to have to undergo a kidney transplant.
What is kidney disease?
Chronic kidney disease means your kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood the way they should. This leads to waste building up in your body and complications such as high blood pressure, anaemia, and heart and blood vessel disease.
Symptoms
The damage to your kidneys happens slowly over a long period, for that reason, there are few signs or symptoms during the early stages of kidney disease. Sometimes chronic kidney disease may not even become apparent until your kidney function is significantly impaired. It is therefore important that you visit your doctor for check-ups regularly.
If you have advanced chronic kidney disease, the symptoms will include:
People with chronic kidney disease can also develop anaemia, bone disease, and malnutrition.
What causes chronic kidney disease?
Diseases and conditions that cause chronic kidney disease include:
People who are most at risk of getting kidney disease include:
How to prevent kidney disease
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help you prevent kidney disease. This includes:
Kidney Awareness Week
Kidney Awareness Week from 2 to 6 September highlights the importance to have one’s kidney functions checked early before chronic kidney disease sets in. According to the National Kidney Foundation of South Africa, kidney failure in South African adults is mainly due to inherited Hypertension (60-65%) or Type 2 Diabetes (another 20-25%). Both diseases can be prevented, diagnosed early and properly treated.
For more information
To find out more about kidney disease visit the National Kidney Foundation website.