Each year, there are more than 10,000 new kidney disease patients. If you are overweight, have high fat or sugar levels in your blood, or drink little water, you should get your kidneys checked because the kidneys gradually deteriorate, and by the time symptoms appear, more than 75% of kidney function is already lost.
Moreover, if you have chronic kidney disease in a severe stage requiring dialysis, it will create burdens and complications in terms of time, finances, and overall health. Therefore, we should be cautious and reduce risk factors for kidney disease. The doctor has some good advice to share.
4 Recommendations for People with Kidney Disease
- Knowing Your Kidney Disease Stage
Since kidney disease has 5 stages, knowing your stage will make self-care much easier. To know your stage, you need to undergo screening, which can be done during your annual health check-up, and the doctor will inform you of the results.
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- Stages 1-3 focus on slowing kidney deterioration, and patients usually do not have many complications.
- Stages 4-5 begin to have complications that require treatment of complications and slowing deterioration simultaneously.
- Stage 5, some patients need to start kidney replacement therapy or dialysis because the kidneys cannot adequately remove waste and maintain body balance.
- Know and Treat the Causes of Kidney Failure, Most Commonly Caused by
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Kidney stones
People with these three conditions should receive continuous treatment, be cautious with their diet, and medication use to prevent progressing to kidney failure.
- Treatment of Complications from Kidney Failure, Such as
- Swelling
- Anemia
- Electrolyte imbalances
When abnormal symptoms occur, patients should see a doctor and be under the care of a kidney specialist. They should follow the recommended diet and medication prescribed by the doctor.
- Ways to Slow Kidney Deterioration Include
- Reduce salty food intake
- Control blood sugar and blood pressure well
- Maintain good overall health
- Take medications as prescribed and avoid drugs harmful to the kidneys
- Quit smoking
For those who do not yet have kidney disease, it is important to know the risk factors and have regular kidney health check-ups because early-stage chronic kidney failure often has no symptoms but can be detected through screening.
Groups at Risk for Kidney Disease Include
- People with underlying diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases (SLE), and kidney stones
- People with a family history of kidney disease
- Those with a history of long-term use of nephrotoxic drugs
- Individuals aged 60 years and older
- Who should have regular annual kidney health check-ups to monitor kidney function
