Chronic Kidney Disease Summary You have two kidneys, each about the size of your fist. Their main job is to filter wastes and excess water out of your blood to make urine. They also keep the body’s chemical balance, help control blood pressure, and make hormones. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means that your kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood as they should. This damage can cause wastes to build up in your body. It can also cause other problems that can harm your health. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of CKD. Treatment may include medicines to lower blood pressure, control blood glucose, and lower blood cholesterol. CKD can get worse over time. CKD may lead to kidney failure. The only treatment options for kidney failure are dialysis or a kidney transplantation. You can take steps to keep your kidneys healthier longer: Choose foods with less salt (sodium) Keep your blood pressure below 130/80 Keep your blood glucose in the target range, if you have diabetes NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Symptoms 10 Symptoms of Kidney Disease Life Options Rehabilitation Program Array 24-hour urine protein ACE inhibitors Albumin – blood (serum) test Basic metabolic panel BUN Chronic kidney disease Chronic Kidney Disease and Medicines: What You Need to Know National Kidney Disease Education Program Nutrition in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse Protein: Tips for People with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) National Kidney Disease Education Program Sodium: Tips for People with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) National Kidney Disease Education Program Encyclopedia Abdominal CT scan Abdominal MRI Calcium – urine CO2 blood test Diet – chronic kidney disease Glomerular filtration rate Kidney biopsy Microalbuminuria test Protein electrophoresis – serum Protein electrophoresis – urine Renal arteriography Renal perfusion scintiscan Renal scan Renovascular hypertension Urea nitrogen urine test Urinary casts Urine 24-hour volume Diagnosis and Tests Abdominal Ultrasound Array Albumin Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry BUN Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry eGFR American Association for Clinical Chemistry Kidney Biopsy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Magnesium Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry MedlinePlus: Creatinine Proteinuria National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Tests for Kidney Health American Kidney Fund Total Protein and Albumin/Globulin Ratio Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Urinalysis American Association for Clinical Chemistry Your Kidney Test Results National Kidney Disease Education Program Start Here About Chronic Kidney Disease National Kidney Foundation Chronic Kidney Disease American Academy of Family Physicians Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) American Kidney Fund Chronic Kidney Disease: What Does It Mean for Me? National Kidney Disease Education Program Keep Your Kidneys Healthy: Catch Kidney Disease Early National Institutes of Health Kidney Disease Basics National Kidney Disease Education Program Related Issues Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Chronic Kidney Disease and Medicines National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Flu Season and Your Kidneys National Kidney Foundation Health Care Team National Kidney Foundation Keeping Your Heart Healthy: What You Should Know about Lipids When You Have Chronic Kidney Disease (Stages 1-4) National Kidney Foundation Planning for Emergencies: A Guide for People with Chronic Kidney Disease National Kidney Foundation Sexuality and Chronic Kidney Disease National Kidney Foundation Staying Fit with Kidney Disease National Kidney Foundation Talking with Your Health Care Professionals about Kidney Disease National Kidney Disease Education Program Prevention and Risk Factors At Risk for Kidney Disease? National Kidney Disease Education Program Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease Life Options Rehabilitation Program Children Children with Chronic Kidney Disease: Tips for Parents National Kidney Foundation Chronic Kidney Diseases Nemours Foundation Growth Failure in Children with Kidney Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases High Blood Pressure and Chronic Kidney Disease in Children: A Guide for Parents National Kidney Foundation Is My Child at Risk for Kidney Disease? National Kidney Disease Education Program When Your Child Has a Chronic Kidney Disease Nemours Foundation Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Renal Insufficiency, Chronic National Institutes of Health Living With Coping Effectively: A Guide to Living Well with Kidney Failure National Kidney Foundation Dining Out with Confidence National Kidney Foundation Eating Right for Kidney Health National Kidney Disease Education Program High-Protein Diets: Are They Safe? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research How to Read a Food Label: Tips for People with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) National Kidney Disease Education Program Low Potassium Diet (Beyond the Basics) UpToDate Nutrition for Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse Nutrition for Early Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse Potassium and Your CKD Diet National Kidney Foundation Renal Diet for Vegetarians: Which Protein Sources Are Best? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Vitamins and Minerals in Kidney Disease National Kidney Foundation What You Can Do Life Options Rehabilitation Program Working with Kidney Disease: Rehabilitation and Employment National Kidney Foundation Treatments and Therapies Dandelion National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Medicines and Kidney Disease National Kidney Disease Education Program Treating High Blood Pressure: Is an ACE Inhibitor Drug Right for You? Consumers Union of U.S. Use of Herbal Supplements in Chronic Kidney Disease National Kidney Foundation Find an Expert Directory of Kidney and Urologic Diseases Organizations National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse Find a Urologist Urology Care Foundation National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Kidney Disease Education Program National Kidney Disease Education Program National Kidney Foundation National Kidney Foundation Statistics and Research FastStats: Kidney Disease National Center for Health Statistics Kidney Disease Statistics for the United States National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Genetics Genetics Home Reference: fibronectin glomerulopathy National Library of Medicine Patient Handouts High Blood Pressure American Kidney Fund Phosphorus: Tips for People with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) National Kidney Disease Education Program Potassium: Tips for People with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) National Kidney Disease Education Program Seniors Kidney Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Kidney Disease: A Silent Problem National Institute on Aging Teenagers Kidney Disease Nemours Foundation NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Kidney Disease and Diabetes: What You Need to Know Kidney Disease: Early Detection and Treatment Videos and Tutorials Kidney School Life Options Rehabilitation Program Reference Desk Kidneys and How They Work National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Kidneys and Urinary Tract (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Women Pregnancy and Kidney Disease National Kidney Foundation Journal Articles Chronic Kidney Disease Latest News Study Links Climate Change to Kidney Disease HealthDay Medicare Spends Billions on Chronic Kidney Disease, Study Finds HealthDay
