CKD Causes & Diagnosis...
...are you listening?...
Turn up the Volume
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One may think CKD is not in their ‘genre’ – but, think again – many unsuspecting passersby should stop & take ‘note’.
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Persons with diabetes have the greatest risk for developing CKD, with their ‘records’ easily broken. They make up the largest group of those with Stage 5 disease.
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Number two on the ‘top ten chart’ of kidney failure causes is hypertension or high blood pressure.
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A ‘quartet’ of CKD high risk race groups includes those who are African American, Hispanic, Native American, and/or Asian.
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Others with a family history of CKD may ‘face the music’ and have to deal with some level of the disease themselves.
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Older folks, (60+ years), appear to go ‘tone deaf’ as they age, so the CKD rate is higher in this population.
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At times a ‘damaged instrument’ - structural changes or defects in the architecture of the kidney along with a history of kidney stones can be the reason the kidneys do not 'perform' the way they should.
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Along with other health issues, obesity is considered a contributing risk factor for the development of CKD.
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Addictions, like smoking and drug abuse (prescription & illicit), will put one at a higher risk level than others who only get hooked on the ‘groove’.
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No matter the cause, CKD is considered a major mortality risk. In fact, those with Stage 5 have a prognosis of death that falls between the rate of colon and that of lung cancer.
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CKD is also an ‘indie’ – independent risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease – which is the #1 killer of Americans today.
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CKD at Stage 5, (those requiring dialysis and/or transplant) at the time of this writing, creates a Medicare expense of over $42 billion dollars a year.
Shazam!
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Usually CKD has no symptoms until the disease is advanced.
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Often, even after the disease has progressed, the signs of feeling ill are vague – even the DJ doesn’t recognize the song!
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Frequent complaints ‘accompanying’ the disease include:
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Unusual fatigue
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Trouble sleeping
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Difficulty concentrating
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Appetite increase or decrease
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Nausea
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Foamy urine
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Blood and urine tests are ‘key’ in making a diagnosis
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There is no ‘solo’ test, but rather, a combination of items are checked, to see if one is developing CKD.
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Likely included are:
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Urine protein/albumin level
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Microscopic examination of the urine
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Creatinine & urea blood levels
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Serum electrolytes
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Blood levels of Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamin D & Parathyroid Hormone
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Complete blood count
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Kidney imaging, such as ultrasound
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Renal biopsy (less often 'performed')
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The 'background music' is then 'turned up' and, because of problems, people start to realize all the things the kidneys actually do..... like red blood cell production (anemia) and calcium/phosphorus regulation (bone disease).