It is estimated that one in every seven people is affected by kidney disease, and the numbers continue to rise, making it one of America’s main causes of death. Chronic kidney disease causes the most concern among the many kidney diseases. It does not show any symptoms, and they may be diagnosed only when the condition is advanced, making it difficult to treat. Chronic kidney disease invariably causes severe complications, including kidney failure.

Causes of kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease is a progressive and difficult-to-diagnose condition. The affected person notices symptoms when the kidney can no longer function well or filter toxins and waste out of the body. The toxins, electrolytes, and other minerals continue to build in our body, causing multiple health problems like swelling, hypertension, heart disease, anemia, weak bones, erectile dysfunction, poor immunity, pregnancy complications, and damage to our central nervous system. Regular medical exams can help in the early detection, treatment, and prevention of complications. The patient may depend on regular dialysis or a kidney transplant to live a healthy life.

Here are some of the main causes of chronic kidney disease:

1. Diabetes
Diabetes continues to remain the major cause of chronic kidney disease. High blood sugar damages the kidneys’ ability to filter toxins and proteins like albumin. The high presence of albumin in the urine is a sign that the kidney disease was caused by diabetes.

2. Hypertension
High blood pressure weakens and narrows the blood vessels in the kidneys. With reduced blood flow, the blood vessels in the kidneys become damaged and stop working effectively.

3. Medication
Some non-prescription medications for headaches, body pain, or fever can damage our kidneys over time. Unsupervised use of antibiotics, painkillers, laxatives, heartburn and acid reflux medication, NSAIDS, medication used for cholesterol, and diabetes can all cause chronic kidney disease.

4. Alcoholism
Regular, long-term, and heavy drinking doubles the risk of chronic kidney disease. The chemicals in alcohol change the way kidneys work and make it difficult for the kidneys to regulate the toxins and electrolytes. Alcohol dehydrates the body, making it difficult for the kidneys to work effectively.

5. Toxin exposure
Exposure to hazardous materials, either orally, through inhalation, or on the skin, can affect our internal organs, including the kidneys. These toxins include heavy metals, agricultural pesticides, and industrial chemicals. The chemicals can damage the kidney, bladder, and ureter.

6. Kidney diseases
Certain inherited diseases or kidney-related diseases can also cause chronic kidney diseases. They include IgA glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis, polycystic kidney disease, enlarged prostate, cancer of the kidney, and vesicoureteral reflux.

7. Other illnesses
Many other health conditions can gradually damage the kidneys and cause chronic kidney disease. They include Lupus nephritis, viral infections, Alport syndrome, IgA vasculitis, and renal artery stenosis.

Treatment options for chronic kidney disease
The key to effective treatment of chronic kidney disease is early detection and diagnosis that can stop or slow down the condition’s progression.

The common treatment options include medication.

Doctors prescribe medication to control blood pressure, manage diabetes, reduce swelling, manage anemia and cholesterol, strengthen bones, and dialysis.

Doctors may recommend dialysis three or four times a week, where a dialysis machine functions as a kidney to remove wastes and fluid from the blood kidney transplant.

Doctors recommend a kidney transplant where medication and dialysis are not effective, and transplant remains the only option for survival.