Did you know 1 in 3 American adults is at risk for kidney disease? As we get older, our bodies change. It is important to schedule check-ups, including kidney check-ups.
If kidney disease is found and treated at an early stage, you can help slow or even stop it from getting worse. Most people with early kidney disease do not have symptoms. That is why it is important to be tested. Common kidney conditions are kidney infections, kidney disease, and kidney cysts.
Regular kidney check-ups are important in maintaining good health because kidneys are part of your urinary system. Kidneys help in filtering body waste materials and expel them as urine and are also important for producing:
- Hormones that maintain blood pressure.
- Red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body.
- Vitamin D, which maintains bone and muscle health.
Usually, kidney disease has no symptoms until your kidneys are badly damaged. Many people ignore their kidney health until they experience problems with it. Through testing one can come to know that how well your kidneys are working. Getting yourself tested becomes more important if you have diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease. If ignored it can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure.
Three explicit reasons you ought to see a nephrologist (kidney specialist) for a checkup.
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You Have Diabetes
Diabetes is a major risk factor for kidney disease. Kidney disease affects about 1 in 3 persons with diabetes. It normally damages the kidneys slowly over a long period of time. Steps can be taken to protect your kidneys and to prevent or delay kidney damage.
When you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels rise because your body either produces insufficient insulin (type 1) or does not respond to it adequately (type 2). Sugar level in the blood is regulated by insulin, which is a hormone.
The most common types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2
Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 diabetes often develops in children or juveniles and is usually diagnosed during adolescence. This type of diabetes is caused by an autoimmune disorder that causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, or when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. This type of diabetes is more common in adults and can be prevented if lifestyle changes are made early on in life.
How does diabetes harm your kidneys?
Diabetes harms the kidneys as high blood sugar levels injure the small blood vessels in the body. Kidneys cannot clean your blood properly when the blood vessels in the kidneys are injured. You can gain (fluid) weight and experience ankle swelling because your body retains more water and salt than it should.
Try to reach your blood pressure and glucose targets as they are the best measures to prevent or stop diabetes-related kidney damage. These goals can be achieved by healthy lifestyle habits and taking your medicines as prescribed
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You have resistant hypertension
A study found that 20% of hypertensive patients are resistant, meaning that despite vigorous treatment, their blood pressure levels are not controlled.
Blood pressure is the amount of pressure that your blood exerts against the walls of your blood vessels as your heart pumps blood. High blood pressure is also called hypertension. An increase in the force that blood exerts on blood vessels as it circulates through the body is a sign of high blood pressure.
Your kidneys’ blood arteries may narrow because of the increased stress that high blood pressure puts on them. This leads to reduced blood flow to your kidneys which results in chronic kidney disease. Resistant high blood pressure or hypertension substantially increases your risk for kidney failure and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
It is best to take steps to lower your blood pressure which will help to slow or prevent kidney disease from high blood pressure. These steps include a combination of medicines and lifestyle changes, such as:
- maintaining a healthy weight
- keeping a healthy diet
- being physically active
- quit smoking
- controlling & managing stress
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You have a family history of kidney disease
The most frequent causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure.
High blood pressure and diabetes can run in the family, as well as kidney disease. If a parent, grandparent, sibling, or other close family has been diagnosed with one of these illnesses, you may be at risk developing them as well.
If you are concerned about your kidney health or function, visit us. To schedule an appointment with us, please visit – https://swkidney.com/contact-us/ OR Contact Us – 480.610.6100
We are more than 60 Board Certified, Fellowship- Trained Physicians, recognized as “Top Docs” and nationally recognized for renal care with more than 40 locations in Arizona.