Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic renal failure, is a serious condition in which your kidneys slowly lose their ability to filter waste from your blood. It is technically defined as a functional deficit in the kidneys that lasts for at least three months. Chronic kidney disease can be an insidious problem, developing slowly over a long period of time and becoming worse as the years go by. There are many potential causes of chronic kidney disease, some of which are preventable and some of which are not.
Your kidneys serve several important functions in your body. They serve to filter waste products from her blood, as well as helping to maintain proper fluid and electrolyte balance in your system. It is important for your kidneys to function properly so that wastes can be excreted in your urine, and you retain the proper amount of water.
In order for the kidneys to function properly, and adequate blood supply must flow through the organs. The kidneys require sufficient blood pressure in order to maintain the ability to filter your blood. Any condition which lowers blood pressure below a certain point, or restricts the ability of blood to flow through the kidneys, can result in chronic kidney disease. In addition, any disorder involving the structures of the kidney itself can lead to chronic kidney disease.
The kidneys receive blood supply from arteries known as the renal arteries. This is a condition known as renal artery stenosis. This condition involves a narrowing of the renal arteries. When the renal arteries become too narrow, blood flow into the kidneys is restricted. This leads to a degeneration of the kidney tissue and consequently chronic kidney disease. Doctors sometimes refer to a condition such as this as pre-renal kidney failure. This simply means that the problem is not with the kidneys themselves, but rather with the blood supply leading to them.
One of the major causes of chronic kidney disease is diabetes. Diabetes can lead to a condition known as diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy results in damage to the nephron so the kidneys. The nephron of the kidneys are the functional units which are involved in the filtration of the blood. When enough nephrons become damaged, they are no longer able to filter blood properly, and a person will consequently develop chronic kidney disease.
There are several conditions which can cause inflammation of the kidneys. This is known medically as glomerulonephritis. There are several different causes of glomerulonephritis, any one of which can lead to chronic kidney disease.
Another common cause of chronic kidney disease is high blood pressure. Hypertension can lead to chronic kidney disease by causing damage to the nephron's in the kidneys.
There is a genetic condition which can predispose a person to chronic kidney disease. This condition is known as polycystic kidney disease. People with polycystic kidney disease will develop a large number of fluid filled cysts on their kidneys. These cysts can eventually grow large enough to impair the function of the kidneys.
In addition to the causes listed above, there are a wide range of other medical conditions which can lead to chronic kidney disease. These can include the use of certain drugs and medications, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, infections in the body, urinary tract infections, obstructions to urinary flow, and a family history of chronic kidney disease.
A wide range of tests are available to determine if you have chronic kidney disease. If you suspect that you may be having issues with your kidneys, make an appointment to see your doctor. Treatments for chronic kidney disease depend entirely on the specific cause of the problem. If you work with your doctor, you can determine exactly what the cause of your chronic kidney disease is, and make a plan for proper treatment.