Chronic Kidney Disease also known as CKD is when kidneys do not function properly. Healthy kidneys help to eliminate toxic substances from the body, balance fluids, regulate blood pressure, produce red blood cells and maintain minerals. As kidney function gradually worsens, wastes and water may begin to accumulate in the body.
Another major problem with CKD is it may go asymptomatic. Most people don’t experience early symptoms. If the person has swelling, fatigue, nausea, urinary changes, shortness of breath or weakness, kidney damage may be more advanced. That’s why it is very important that it is identified early, during primary care.
How Common Is Chronic Kidney Disease?
Many patients don’t realize that CKD is more common than they believe. According to the National Kidney Foundation, if a patient doesn’t know they have CKD, they generally are not aware they may be walking around with kidney damage, and only 10% of all patients diagnosed with CKD know they have it.
This inattention is important as kidney disease may develop over the course of time. It can cause severe problems if not detected early, such as high blood pressure, anaemia, weak bones, fluid retention, heart disease, kidney failure, dialysis and/or transplant.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
Your family doctor can help determine if you are at a greater risk for CKD. Diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and family history of kidney failure are the most important risk factors. Anyone at risk, like those with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and a family history of kidney failure, is recommended for screening by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
Other risk factors include using certain pain medications for a long time, abnormalities in kidney tests, smoking, obesity, autoimmune diseases, and multiple kidney infections. Kidney screening should be included in your health plan if you have any of these risks.
How Your Primary Care Doctor Screens for CKD
Usually CKD can be discovered with some simple tests. Two tests are commonly used to help healthcare providers know how well the kidneys are functioning properly, a blood test to measure GFR, which tells the level of blood the kidneys are able to filter, or a urine test to measure the amount of the protein albumin (which may be present in urine if the kidneys are damaged).
This blood test is typically expressed as eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate). If the eGFR is lower, it could indicate that the kidneys are not working as well. The urine test is sometimes referred to as a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR). An early sign can be the presence of protein (albumin) in the urine, particularly for people with diabetes or hypertension.
The NIDDK considers urine albumin and eGFR to be the two most important tests for screening and monitoring of chronic kidney disease.
Why Early Detection Makes a Difference
Early detection of CKD allows you and your health care provider plenty of time to help slow the disease. Based on the results, your primary care physician may suggest improved control of your diabetes or blood pressure, changes to your medications, using medications to protect your kidneys, dietary advice, when to avoid certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) pain relievers, quitting smoking, weight control, and regular follow up.
Detections in the early stages protect the heart as well. There is a close relationship between kidney disease and heart disease. When kidney function is low, blood pressure and fluid balance is affected and this puts more pressure on the cardiovascular system.
When to See a Specialist
Many cases of early-stage CKD can be treated by your primary care provider, but you may need to see a kidney specialist (nephrologist) if your kidney function has worsened, if you have a lot of protein in your urine, if you have high blood pressure that’s not being well controlled, or if the test results indicate a more complicated issue.
Final Thoughts
It is possible for chronic kidney disease to manifest itself without any symptoms; nevertheless, it does not have to remain undetected. Some regular, important tests at primary care visits can go a long way in detecting kidney trouble as early as possible, when it can make the greatest difference: Blood pressure checks, diabetes monitoring, eGFR tests and urine albumin screening. For kidney health screening, blood pressure checks, diabetes monitoring, or preventive care appointments, email appointment@familydiagnosticclinic.com and our team will get you scheduled.
