Kidneys are amazing organs. Shaped like a bean and the size of your first, they are located just under the rib cage on either side of the spine. They are sometimes called “a magic bean” because of their hardworking resilience, even under the poorest of health conditions.
The kidneys work like a sophisticated filter, removing waste and toxins and regulating minerals. All blood passes through the kidney in one hour.
“The kidneys put back the exact amount of minerals the body needs and remove the rest. Whether it is extra phosphate or minerals, the kidneys sense the blood is now rich in those and removes everything except what you need in your blood stream,” says Dr. Aida Svekic.
Other benefits result from this primary filtering process. Kidneys also indirectly help:
Kidneys lose function either through a sudden event or over time with chronic kidney disease.
Acute kidney failure: This occurs through some kind of event like an infection, eating harmful foods, drugs, or an injury. If the reason can be found, it’s possible to reverse the damage.
Chronic kidney disease: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 37 million Americans and happens slowly over many years due to underlying health issues. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two most common conditions that cause kidney disease.
“The kidney is an amazing organ. It just keeps working, going along with no complaints until the damage is severe. Symptoms begin to appear when there is waste in the blood stream. This damages the heart, the nerves and the bones,” says Svekic.
Symptoms of severe kidney failure
Kidney disease has five stages which are based on two screenings.
GFR blood test- This blood test measures how your kidney is working, specifically the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This measures how much blood kidneys filter each minute.
Urine albumin test – This test measures how much protein, albumin, is present in urine.
Screening results reveal overall kidney health and functioning, allowing a physician the ability to diagnose and stage the disease. Here’s a general look at each stage:
1. Slight damage but the kidneys are functioning normally at 90-100%.
2. Mild loss that shows filtering is 60-89% of normal function
3. Symptoms appear. 3A indicates functioning at 45-59% and 3B indicates symptoms have become apparent.
4. Moderate to severe loss. The goal is to prevent the disease from advancing to this stage where the damage may be irreversible. Kidney function is 44%.
5. Severe loss with function less than 30%.
More than two thirds of patients experiencing kidney failure also have diabetes or high blood pressure.
Diabetes: Diabetes causes inflammation which damages blood vessels. The kidneys are essentially made of nephrons, millions of tiny filters which create a mesh of very fine capillaries. Nephrons are fragile and easily damaged by diabetes. In this state, kidneys are trying to function, and yet, are overworking. The arteries around the kidneys become affected, narrowing due to damage and affecting the blood supply.
Heart disease: Kidney and heart disease are closely linked. When kidney function declines, the decline negatively affects the heart by disrupting the mineral balance and causing fluid retention.
Genetics: Patients with a family history of kidney disease are predisposed to developing the disease.
Kidney disease at all stages can be managed proactively with the goal of preserving kidney function and improving overall health. The key is to be aware and control habits and lifestyle.
End-stage kidney failure, stage five, happens when the kidneys no longer function or can filter toxins. This stage is irreversible and life threatening without treatment. Kidney failure is also referred to as end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
Treatments include:
Knowing what to ask can be helpful as you manage your treatment. Here are a few questions to consider asking your primary care physician during visits.
1. Has my GFR changed?
2. Is my condition worse or about the same?
3. Should I see a dietician?
4. Should I be considered for dialysis or transplant?
If you’d like to learn more about kidney disease, enjoy our video interview with Dr. Aida Svekic that can be found in our
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