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<p>One chronic disease that causes suffering to patients and incurs high costs is <span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>“chronic kidney disease”</strong></span>, which requires lifelong treatment once diagnosed. However, we can avoid this suffering because Dr. San Triwitayapoom, Internal Medicine (Nephrology subspecialty), Department of Internal Medicine, Phyathai 3 Hospital, says this disease is preventable.</p>
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<h2 style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #00826a;">Get to Know the “Kidneys,” Organs That Do More Than Just Excrete Waste</span><strong><span style="color: #00826a;"><br />
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<p style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #000000;">We all know that the main function of the kidneys is to excrete waste produced from protein metabolism out of the body, eliminate excess water as urine, and regulate the balance of minerals, acids, and bases in the body to normal levels. What many people do not know is that the kidneys also produce hormones necessary for red blood cell production to prevent anemia and produce vitamins that regulate calcium and phosphorus absorption to maintain normal levels.</span></p>
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<h2 style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #00826a;">What is “Chronic Kidney Disease”?</span></h2>
<p>Chronic kidney disease is a condition where the kidneys gradually deteriorate until their function significantly decreases, requiring dialysis treatment. If kidney function abnormalities persist for more than 3 months, it is called chronic kidney disease.</p>
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<p>If a doctor diagnoses this disease, it means the kidneys cannot return to normal and will continue to deteriorate. The degree of deterioration varies among individuals; some deteriorate slowly, while others deteriorate rapidly, depending on the patient’s self-care and control of existing diseases.</p>
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<h2 style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #00826a;">These Symptoms May Indicate “Chronic Kidney Disease”<strong><br />
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<p style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #000000;">When the kidneys deteriorate, they cannot excrete waste, causing waste to accumulate in the blood. This results in symptoms such as fatigue and lethargy. If the kidneys excrete less water, fluid accumulates in the body, causing swelling in the body, legs, and eyes. If kidney function decreases, the balance of minerals in the body becomes abnormal, which may cause some minerals, such as potassium, to increase. Potassium is commonly found in fruits. When the body cannot excrete potassium, it accumulates in the blood, affecting heart function, causing irregular heartbeats or even cardiac arrest.</span></p>
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<p>Chronic kidney disease is divided into 5 stages based on kidney function levels. In the early stages, kidney function is normal and gradually decreases without symptoms until stages 4-5. Stage 5 chronic kidney disease means kidney function has decreased to 15%, while stages 1-3 show no symptoms and are often undetected without annual health check-ups. The abnormal signs include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Abnormal urination, such as unusual color, urine resembling meat wash water, darker color than usual, or excessive foaming</li>
<li>Frequent urination, especially at night, more than 3-4 times</li>
<li>Painful or burning urination, or intermittent urination</li>
<li>Back or waist pain, possibly indicating kidney stones or kidney inflammation</li>
<li>Increased blood pressure</li>
</ul>
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<h2 style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #00826a;">Who is “At Risk” for Chronic Kidney Disease?</span></h2>
<ul>
<li>Patients with diabetes for more than 5 years</li>
<li>Those with high blood pressure, which may cause kidney disease and lead to high blood pressure, or have high blood pressure that causes chronic kidney failure</li>
<li>Genetic diseases such as polycystic kidney disease, which currently has no cure and requires management to slow kidney deterioration</li>
<li>Autoimmune diseases or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which can affect all organs, including the kidneys, causing kidney inflammation and eventual kidney failure</li>
<li>Gout or high uric acid levels in the blood, which cause deposits in the urinary tract, leading to urinary stones or deposits in the kidney tissue</li>
<li>Exposure to certain substances or medications that cause kidney deterioration or failure, such as anti-inflammatory drugs often taken to reduce muscle inflammation, joint pain, or knee pain</li>
</ul>
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<h2 style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #00826a;">How to Treat Chronic Kidney Disease<strong><br />
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<p style="color: #008080;"><span style="color: #000000;">The treatment approach focuses on slowing kidney deterioration by managing the underlying diseases that cause chronic kidney disease, controlling blood pressure at appropriate levels, and strictly controlling diet by consuming a low protein diet.</span></p>
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<p>Chronic kidney disease can be prevented by health check-ups to detect diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and gout to plan prevention strategies. If diseases are detected, continuous medical treatment should be sought to keep symptoms well controlled.</p>
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<p style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #00826a;"><strong>Dr. San Triwitayapoom</strong></span><br />
Internal Medicine (Nephrology subspecialty)<br />
Dialysis Center, Phyathai 3 Hospital</p>


If you or someone close to you has abnormal urination, such as a change in color, foamy urine, urinating more frequently, a burning sensation, as well as back pain or waist pain, there may be abnormalities related to kidney stones or kidney inflammation. If blood pressure rises, extra caution is needed.

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Chronic Kidney Disease... A Preventable Disorder

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