The kidneys are organs in the excretory system that filter blood to eliminate waste and regulate chemicals in the blood.
GFR stands for Glomerular Filtration Rate, which measures how well the kidneys are filtering and how they overall function. A healthy GFR varies by age, sex, and body size, but patients with chronic kidney disease should have a baseline GFR to assess their stage of kidney disease.
Kidney disease is often triggered by hypertension and diabetes. Improper treatment of these conditions could lead to kidney failure and dialysis.
To treat hypertension, eat healthy foods that are low in sodium. Maintain a good weight, increase physical activity, limit alcohol intake, don’t smoke, properly maintain stress, and regularly monitor your blood pressure at home.
To treat type 1 diabetes, use insulin injections or an insulin to monitor your blood sugar and count carbohydrates. To treat type 2 diabetes, monitor your blood sugar with insulin and/or diabetes medication and take on activities that are conducive to an overall healthier lifestyle.
The most common symptoms of kidney disease include blood in the urine or foamy urine, hypertension, fatigue, weight loss, ankle swelling from fluid retention, anemia, nausea and/or vomiting.
The most common symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, excess thirst, excess hunger, unintentional weight loss, blurred vision, fatigue, numbness or tingling in hands and feet, and dry skin.
The most common symptoms of hypertension include lightheadedness and/or fainting, blurry vision, fatigue, headaches (especially early in the morning), irregular heartbeats, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, and nausea and/or vomiting.
It is recommended that individuals follow a diet that is low in protein to preserve kidney health. A low-sodium diet is also essential for lowering high blood pressure.
To prevent diseases affecting the kidneys, quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise. Follow a low sodium, low protein diet, or talk to a physician about the best diet to maintain your health.
Dialysis is a procedure that removes wastes and excess fluids from the blood, taking on the essential role of the kidneys. Dialysis is necessary once a patient has reached the stage of kidney failure.
