What your kidneys do
You have two kidneys, each about the size of your fist. Their main job is to filter your blood, removing wastes and extra water, which become urine. They also:
- keep the body's chemicals in balance;
- help control blood pressure;
- make hormones.
What CKD is
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means your kidneys are damaged and can't filter blood as they should. Wastes can build up in your body, and other problems can harm your health.
- Main causes: diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common.
- A silent disease: the damage happens slowly, over many years, and many people have no symptoms until it is very advanced.
- Only tests can tell: blood and urine tests are the only way to know if you have kidney disease.
Treatment
Treatment can't cure CKD, but it may slow it. It includes medicines to:
- lower blood pressure;
- control blood sugar;
- lower cholesterol.
CKD may still worsen over time and sometimes leads to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Keeping your kidneys healthy longer
- choose foods with less salt (sodium);
- control your blood pressure — your provider can tell you your target;
- keep your blood sugar in range, if you have diabetes;
- limit alcohol;
- eat heart-healthy foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy;
- lose weight if you're overweight;
- be physically active;
- don't smoke.
Sources
Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Chronic Kidney Disease," National Library of Medicine, drawing on the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
许可协议： CC0 1.0（公有领域） · 改编自 medlineplus.gov
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