Family Doctor 2008

common conditions CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE Facts about CKD It’s important to keep your blood pressure low if you are at risk of developing chronic kidney disease. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE? TIREDNESS LACK OF ENERGY LOSS OF APPETITE MUSCLE WEAKNESS sion), your doctor will want you to keep your blood pressure as low as you can — 130 over 80 or lower is an ideal reading. If you’re not able to keep your blood pressure low on your own, your doctor may prescribe medicine to lower it. ● Control your diabetes. If you have diabetes, Some 26 million American adults have chronic kidney disease, and millions more are at increased risk of developing this disease. What can you do to keep kidney failure at bay? By Sarah Smiley Young NEED TO URINATE MORE OFTEN TROUBLE SLEEPING TROUBLE THINKING CLEARLY SWELLING OF THE FEET AND ANKLES OFTEN NO SYMPTOMS you’ll need to control your blood sugar levels. You can do this by making changes in your diet, being physically active and taking because the sooner it’s caught, the more you can do to prevent kidney failure. Your doctor can ﬁnd out if you have the disease by checking your blood pressure and testing your blood and urine. Who’s at risk? Anyone can get chronic kidney disease. However, it’s more likely to affect people who have diabetes or high blood pressure. If you have either of these conditions, your doctor will need to check your kidney function on a regular basis. Older people, people in certain ethnic groups and people who have a family history of chronic kidney disease are at higher risk. What can I do? Whether you’re at risk of developing CKD or you’ve already been diagnosed, taking care of yourself is key. Maintaining a healthy diet and a regular exercise program — and quitting smoking if you smoke — will help control the factors that put you at risk of CKD. If you already have the disease, healthy habits can keep it from getting worse. Here’s what else you can do: ● Keep your blood pressure low. If you have W blood cells. hen your kidneys are healthy, you probably don’t give them a second thought. These small, any medicine your doctor prescribes. ● Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a type of fat. Triglyceride levels are often higher in people who have kidney disease. You may need to take medicine to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. ● Eat a special diet. CKD can change the bean-shaped organs ﬁlter excess ﬂuid and waste products from your blood into your urine. Your kidneys also help your body regulate its blood pressure and produce red When your kidneys don’t ﬁlter your blood properly, harmful levels of ﬂuid, waste and chemicals start to build up in your body. This is called kidney failure. Kidney failure can cause vomiting, weakness, confusion, coma and death. Sometimes kidney failure happens quickly, especially if you’ve been injured or had a sudden blockage in the blood vessels that lead to your kidneys. But usually it develops slowly. When this happens, it’s called chronic kidney disease (CKD). Missed signals. Many people who have CKD aren’t aware that they have it. Some people don’t have any symptoms at all. Sometimes people have symptoms that seem like they’re caused by something else. If you have CKD, it’s important to ﬁnd out way your body uses protein, potassium, sodium and phosphorus. Your doctor may prescribe a special diet or suggest that you talk to a nutritionist. Sarah Smiley Young is a senior associate editor with the American Academy of Family Physicians, headquartered in Leawood, Kan. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org/832.xml American Association of Kidney Patients http://www.aakp.org National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases http://www.niddk.nih.gov National Kidney Foundation http://www.kidney.org high blood pressure (also called hyperten- 70 familydoctor 2008 http://familydoctor.org/832.xml http://www.aakp.org http://www.niddk.nih.gov http://www.kidney.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Family Doctor 2008

Family Doctor 2008 Foreward Introduction Contents What Do You Want From Health Care? Confident Communication Need a New Doctor? Understanding Your Health Insurance OTC Safety as Simple as 1-2-3 The Fight Against Resistance Drug Interactions Prevention is Better than Cure Hitting a Home Run 'The Herbalist Will See You Now' Healthy Eating to Boost Your Heart and Health Exercise: The Elixir of Life Back from the Brink Taking Control Up All Night Vitamins and Minerals 101 Allergies: Combating the Causes Protect Yourself From Colds and the Flu Diabetes: Assessing Your Risk Dealing with Diabetes The Cholesterol Count Getting a Grip on Hypertension Facts About CKD Banish the Burn Easing the Pain Stop the Pounding Urinary Tract Infections: Common and Preventable Skin Essentials The ABCs of COPD Impotence: Tackling the Old Taboo Taking Responsibility for Your Health Prostate Cancer Screening: Is it For You? Protecting Your Prostate Heart Disease and Women: Know the Risks Birth Control to Suit You Maneuvering Through Menopause Help for PMS Infertility: Problems Having a Baby Preventive Health: What Women Need to Know Pregnancy: Taking Care of You and Your Baby Eating for Two Postpartum Mood Disorders The Basics of Breast Milk Newborn Screening Tests: Possible Lifesavers Common Newborn Conditions Childhood Vaccines: Why They're Necessary Food Allergies: The Facts Facing Your Acne Raising Grades Staying On Your Feet Age Gracefully: Take Care of Your Bones Battling Osteoarthritis Tackling Anxiety Beating the Blues

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