How can kidneys be damaged

Maintaining a healthy weight is important, too. Stage 2 kidney disease is still considered a mild form, but detectable issues like protein in urine or physical damage to the kidneys may be more obvious. The same lifestyle approaches that helped in stage 1 are still used in stage 2.

Also talk with your doctor about other risk factors that could make the disease progress more rapidly. These include heart disease, inflammation, and blood disorders. At this stage kidney disease is considered moderate. Stage 3 kidney disease is sometimes divided into 3A and 3B. A blood test that measures the amount of waste products in your body differentiates between the two.

Symptoms may become more apparent at this stage. Swelling in hands and feet, back pain, and changes to urination frequently are likely. Lifestyle approaches may help. Your doctor may also consider medications to treat underlying conditions that could speed up failure. Stage 4 kidney disease is considered moderate to severe.

Symptoms can include complications like anemia, high blood pressure, and bone disease. A healthy lifestyle is still vital. Your doctor will likely have you on treatments designed to slow damage.

In stage 5, your kidneys are nearing or are in complete failure. Symptoms of the loss of kidney function will be evident. These include vomiting and nausea, trouble breathing, itchy skin, and more. There are several treatments for kidney failure.

The type of treatment you need will depend on the reason for your kidney failure. Dialysis filters and purifies the blood using a machine. The machine performs the function of the kidneys. Depending on the type of dialysis, you may be connected to a large machine or a portable catheter bag.

Another treatment option is a kidney transplant. A transplanted kidney can work normally, and dialysis is no longer needed. If you have a living donor the process may go more quickly. You must take immunosuppressive drugs after the surgery to prevent your body from rejecting the new kidney. These drugs have their own side effects, some of which are serious. Transplant surgery might not be the right treatment option for everyone.

The guidelines for what you eat will often depend on the stage of kidney disease you have and your individual health. Some recommendations might include:. Beyond these general guidelines, you may also be told to avoid certain foods if you have kidney disease. Urine color can raise flags for potential problems. Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure. Uncontrolled high blood sugar can damage kidneys. The damage can become worse over time. Most employers can make these adjustments.

Coping with kidney failure can be stressful. Some of the steps that you are taking to manage your kidney disease are also healthy ways to cope with stress. For example, physical activity and sleep help reduce stress. Learn more about healthy ways to cope with stress. Depression is common among people with a chronic, or long-term, illness. Depression can make it harder to manage your kidney disease. Ask for help if you feel down. Your health care team can help you. The following people may be part of your health care team:.

A doctor who specializes in kidney health and oversees your treatment. Dialysis nurse. If you do home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, your dialysis nurse will teach you how to set up your treatment, take care of the equipment, and watch for infections or other problems.

Transplant coordinator. A specially trained nurse who will be your point of contact, arrange your appointments, and teach you what to do before and after the transplant.

Renal dietitian. A renal dietitian is trained to help people with kidney failure. Social worker. Dialysis clinics and transplant centers have a social worker who works with people who have ESRD. Your renal social worker can help you find answers to problems such as. Family and friends. Allowing your friends and family to help and sharing news about your kidney disease can make a big difference in how you feel.

Studies show that being connected to other people can help your health. A strong support system of family and friends can make it easier to deal with health problems and life changes. Be sure to spend time with friends or keep in touch with them by phone or email. Stay involved in activities that interest you. Taking charge of your own medical care can help you feel more in control of your life. Take all your medicines and keep all your appointments.

Work with your health care team to learn about different kidney failure treatments, and let them know what kind of treatment you want. If you choose home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, tell your dialysis nurse about any problems you have with equipment or supplies. If you have a transplant, talk with your transplant coordinator if your medicines cause side effects.

You are your own best advocate. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Kidney Failure What is Kidney Failure? In this section: What are the symptoms of kidney failure? What health problems can people with kidney disease develop?

Because people with early kidney disease may not have any symptoms. Symptoms usually show up late in the progression of the disease. Healthy kidneys remove wastes and extra fluid from your blood. But when your kidneys fail, wastes and extra fluid can build up in your blood and make you feel sick. You may have some of the following symptoms:. Once you begin treatment for kidney failure, your symptoms will improve and you will begin to feel much better. There are two treatments for kidney failure — dialysis and kidney transplant.

The dialysis treatments or transplanted kidney will take over some of the work of your damaged kidneys and remove wastes and extra fluid from your body. This will make many of your symptoms better. You should consider many things when choosing a treatment for kidney failure, including your lifestyle, your age, any other health problems you may have, and whether you have a friend or relative to help you.

Your decision should be based on more than your medical history and your doctor's opinion. It should also be based on what you and your family wants.

The results of your blood and urine tests can be used to tell the stage of your kidney disease. This is a number that reflects how severe the damage to your kidneys is, with a higher number indicating more serious CKD. There's no cure for CKD, but treatment can help relieve the symptoms and stop it getting worse. CKD can range from a mild condition with no or few symptoms, to a very serious condition where the kidneys stop working, sometimes called kidney failure.

Most people with CKD will be able to control their condition with medicine and regular check-ups. CKD only progresses to kidney failure in around 1 in 50 people with the condition.

If you have CKD, even if it's mild, you're at an increased risk of developing other serious problems, such as cardiovascular disease.