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Chronic Kidney Disease
Summary
You have two kidneys, each about the size of your fist. Their main job is to filter your blood. They remove wastes and extra water, which become urine. They also keep the body’s chemicals balanced, 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.
The kidney damage occurs slowly over many years. Many people don’t have any symptoms until their kidney disease is very advanced. Blood and urine tests are the only way to know if you have kidney disease.
Treatments cannot cure kidney disease, but they may slow kidney disease. They include medicines to lower blood pressure, control blood sugar, and lower cholesterol. CKD may still get worse over time. Sometimes it can lead to kidney failure. If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplantation.
You can take steps to keep your kidneys healthier longer:
- Choose foods with less salt (sodium)
- Control your blood pressure; your health care provider can tell you what your blood pressure should be
- Keep your blood sugar in the target range, if you have diabetes
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
- Choose foods that are healthy for your heart: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy foods
- Lose weight if you are overweight
- Be physically active
- Don’t smoke
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Start Here
- About Chronic Kidney Disease National Kidney Foundation
- Chronic Kidney Disease American Academy of Family Physicians
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) American Kidney Fund
- What Is Chronic Kidney Disease? National Kidney Disease Education Program
Patient Handouts
- ACE inhibitors Medical Encyclopedia
- Chronic kidney disease Medical Encyclopedia
Related Issues
- Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- If You Have Kidney Disease, You Need to Get a Flu Shot this Fall 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
- Managing Chronic Kidney Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Mineral and Bone Disorder in Chronic Kidney Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- 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
Prevention and Risk Factors
- At Risk for Kidney Disease? National Kidney Disease Education Program
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Renal Insufficiency, Chronic National Institutes of Health
Living With
- Coping: Managing Your Kidney Disease National Kidney Foundation
- Dining Out with Confidence National Kidney Foundation
- Eating Right for Chronic Kidney Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- High-Protein Diets: Are They Safe? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Nutrition for Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
- Potassium in Your CKD Diet National Kidney Foundation
- Renal Diet for Vegetarians: What about Protein? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Slowing Kidney Disease Life Options Rehabilitation Program
- Vitamins and Minerals in Kidney Disease National Kidney Foundation
- Working with Kidney Disease: Rehabilitation and Employment National Kidney Foundation
Diagnosis and Tests
- Creatinine Test National Library of Medicine
- Kidney Tests: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
Treatments and Therapies
- Dandelion National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Use of Herbal Supplements in Chronic Kidney Disease National Kidney Foundation
Encyclopedia
- Diet – chronic kidney disease Medical Encyclopedia
- Renal perfusion scintiscan Medical Encyclopedia
- Renovascular hypertension Medical Encyclopedia
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
- Fibronectin glomerulopathy: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Children
- Growth Failure in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Nutrition for Children with Chronic Kidney Disease National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
Videos and Tutorials
- Kidney School Life Options Rehabilitation Program
Reference Desk
- Kidneys and Urinary Tract (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Your Kidneys and How They Work National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Health Check Tools
- Kidneys and Your Health: Kidney Health Assessment Quiz National Kidney Foundation
Find an Expert
- 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
Women
- Pregnancy and Kidney Disease National Kidney Foundation