Ways to Manage Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease or CKD refers to lasting kidney damage that only deteriorates over time. After a certain point, the affected kidney may stop working completely. Such a condition is known as end-stage renal disease or ESRD. Patients who suffer from ESRD need to undergo dialysis on a regular basis or may even need to undergo kidney transplant as a choice of treatment. In the absence of these remedies, ESRD is fatal.

How to treat Chronic Kidney Disease

The best way to prevent chronic kidney disease from advancing to end-stage renal disease is to undergo treatment in its initial stages. Even though the damage sustained to the kidneys cannot be undone, proper treatment can prevent any additional damage.

Here are some ways in which you can manage damage to your kidneys if you suffer from chronic kidney disease.

• Keeping blood sugar in check- Excess glucose levels in the blood stresses the kidneys. Your kidneys are not designed to process high levels of glucose, which can over time lead to damage. People suffering from diabetes are therefore more likely to suffer from chronic kidney disease. Exercise daily and restrict the consumption of artificial sweeteners to keep diabetes in check.

• Maintain a healthy blood pressure- Hypertension is another common cause for chronic kidney disease. While many know that high blood pressure affects the heart, most are unaware of the condition’s adverse effects on the kidneys. Keeping blood pressure in check is easy if you follow a healthy lifestyle. Exercising, meditating and following a healthy diet are some remedies for hypertension.

• Low sodium and a low-fat diet- While salt is necessary to add a bit of taste to food, try to avoid intake of salt if possible. Excess sodium from salts can put undue pressure on the kidneys and deteriorate chronic kidney disease.

• Stop using tobacco products- One of the many reasons to stop smoking is that tobacco essentially poisons your blood. Your kidneys purify the blood, but the effects of tobacco put a great amount of stress on these organs.

Apart from the medication that your doctor prescribes, following the tips mentioned above will help you prevent chronic kidney disease from advancing into something more serious.