What Is Kidney Disease?

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Overview of Kidney Disease

For any patient recently diagnosed with kidney disease, it is natural to wonder what might have caused this condition, how it can be treated, and the odds of recovery. Some consumers believe that their use of PPI medications has increased their chances of kidney disease and even led to a full diagnosis.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

According to Cochrane Kidney and Transplant, this disease refers to damaged kidneys that are unable to filter blood properly. When this diagnosis is assigned to a patient, it’s usually due to the kidney damage that has developed over a long period, since the waste inside builds up in the body.

This condition is usually diagnosed when a patient has suffered from serious symptoms and problems for at least three months.

Kidney Disease Risk Factors

Certain factors make a person more likely to develop kidney disease. Patients could be at risk of kidney disease with a previous diagnosis of diabetes, heart disease, past kidney failure, or high blood pressure.

Sometimes, overuse of PPI medicines like Nexium can cause a patient to develop chronic kidney disease. While these drugs are effective in the short term, they can lead to long-term damage and conditions.

CKD Symptoms

Symptoms that affect patients with kidney disease might not be easily noticed in the early stages. Over time, however, a patient with CKD could suffer from problems like swelling, also known as edema.

This condition happens when the patient’s body is not able to get rid of salt and extra fluid. Edema can impact different parts of the body, including the feet, legs, ankles, or hands.

Advanced CKD symptoms include more problematic medical issues, like dry skin, chest pain, headaches, feeling tired, itching or numbness, nausea, sleep problems, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, weight loss, and vomiting.

Kidney Failure

In the most serious of medical conditions, kidney problems can also lead to organ failure. According to Kidney Patients UK, kidney failure refers to a condition in which the kidneys cannot perform their normal functions of removing excess water, removing toxic wastes, supporting the manufacture of red blood cells, and controlling blood pressure.

When this condition is in the advanced stages, it is known as end-stage renal failure.

CKD Interactions

A diagnosis of chronic kidney disease can also increase the chances that the same patient has other medical conditions. Heart disease, stroke, and heart attack are just some of the conditions that might also occur after a patient has CKD.

 CKD Impacts

The way that chronic kidney disease affects a person might look different from one patient to another. While many people are able to live a functioning and productive life after their diagnosis, others will be concerned about the possibility of dialysis or other health issues. A good diet and exercise regime can help a patient who has been diagnosed with this condition, and all medical appointments should be kept so that a doctor can get involved if the condition gets worse.

Another issue to be aware of is the fact that someone with CKD could be seriously hurt with any kind of acute kidney injury. Certain medicines, illnesses, or injuries can trigger problems with the kidneys.