Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is featured with gradual loss of renal function over time.This article will introduce some basic information about CKD.

What is CKD?

Chronic kidney disease includes conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability.If kidney disease gets worse,wastes and extra fluids will build up in your blood and make you feel sick.Over time,you will experience a host of complications like high blood pressure,anemia, weak bones, poor nutritional health and never damage.In addition,kidney disease increases your risk of having heart and blood vessels diseases.

Five stages of CKD

Based on glomerular filtration (GFR),CKD can be divided into five stages, as the following table.

What are the causes of CKD?

There is a variety of causes of CKD,in which Diabetes and high blood pressure are responsible for up to two-thirds of the cases.Other conditions that affect the kidneys include:

*Glomerulonephritis, a group of diseases featured with the inflammation and damage to the kidney's filtering units.

*Genetic kidney diseases,such as polycystic kidney disease (PKD), alport syndrome

*Autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

*Malformations that occur as a baby develops in its mother's womb

*Obstructions caused by problems like kidney stones, tumors or an enlarged prostate gland in men.

*Repeated urinary infections.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can develop asymptomatically for many years.Most patients do not experience symptoms until the disease progresses into advanced stage.As the renal function worsens, they will experience the following symptoms.

Changes in urine

The patients with CKD may experience some changes in urine.One is frequent urination,especially at night. This occurs when the concentrating ability of kidneys is impaired.Additionally, foamy urine and cola-colored urine can occur.Foamy urine is due to loss of extra proteins in urine. Cola-colored urine results from leakage of red blood cells in urine.

Puffiness or swelling

Puffiness or swelling can occur in legs and ankles and around the eyes. The diseased kidneys fail to filter out extra fluids from body. Another cause of puffiness is hypoproteinemia.

Fatigue and weakness

Fatigue and weakness in CKD is the result of anemia.Healthy kidneys can produce a hormone called EPO which can stimulate the bone marrow to make red blood cells.The diseased kidneys fail to perform the function, thus resulting in anemia.The patients with anemia may also experience pale face and shortness of breath.

Skin disorders

Skin disorders can occur as CKD progresses.Common skin problems include skin itching, dry skin, pale skin and urea frost. Skin itching is due to high building up of phosphorus in body. Dry skin occurs as the oil gland is impaired and restriction of fluid intake. Pale skin happens as a result of anemia. If high levels of urea nitrogen build up in skin, it will lead to urea frost.

Muscle weakness

Muscle weakness can be seen in CKD. It is attributed to multiple factors including decreased protein stores, anemia, chemical imbalance and heart problem.

Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath can occur if extra fluids build up in lung. In serious case, the patients even can not lie on back.Another cause of shortness of breath is inadequate supply of oxygen to body tissues and cells.

The above are the symptoms of CKD. If you want to learn other aspect of CKD, like CKD treatments, you can email to .

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) refers to progressive loss of renal function. There is a variety of diseases and conditions which can cause CKD.The treatment options for CKD include:

Symptomatic treatment

In conventional treatment,symptomatic treatment is the major treatment for CKD.It aims at controlling the symptoms in CKD like high blood pressure,anemia,swelling etc.By doing this,it can slow the renal function deterioration. Medications for blood pressure,diuretics, erythropoietin are common medications for CKD.

Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy

Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy is an external therapy based on traditional Chinese medicine.Different formulas are prescribed based on the CKD stage,kidney damage degree and causes of CKD.The micro-Chinese medicines can be penetrated into kidney lesions directly with the help of osmosis devices.This therapy aims at restoring the impaired kidney structure and enhancing renal function.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy can treat CKD by correcting the immune dysfunction and recovering the self-healing system in body.Once the impaired kidney tissues can be regenerated, the kidneys will be able to function better.

Polluted Blood Therapy

In treating CKD, Polluted Blood Therapy starts from treating unhealthy blood instead of the the kidneys. Polluted Blood Therapy has three treatment processes, each of which plays a vital role in treating CKD. These three treatment processes include combined therapy of blood purification, elements supplementation and function rebuilding.

If you want to know how it works in treating CKD, you can chat with our medical professional directly.

Medicated bath

In CKD, as kidneys are damaged, high levels of toxins and wastes will build up in body and blood supply to kidneys will reduce. Medicated bath is an external therapy for CKD.When soaked in bath, your sweat pore will open up.On one hand,some wastes and toxins will be filtered out of body through the pores.On the other hand, some effective medicine ingredients can enter body through the open pores.

Kidney replacement treatments

When CKD develops into advanced stage, kidney replacement treatments will be required including dialysis and kidney transplant.

A healthy lifestyle plays a vital role in manging chronic kidney disease (CKD). How to arrange diet and fitness to get a better treatment outcome?

What exercises are good to people with CKD? Moderate exercise can improve the overall condition and slow renal function decline.

Types of exercise for CKD patients

Strengthening exercises like stair climbing can improve muscle strengthen and mange weight.At the beginning of the exercise program, the patients should control the amount of exercise and just do only several repetitions of each exercise.They can increase their exercise intensity gradually.

Flexibility exercises or stretching exercise can be done by patients with CKD.Flexibility exercises or stretching exercises is helpful for improving the movement within joints and reduce muscle stiffness.

Cardiovascular exercises are recommended to patients with CKD. It can enhance the cardiac function and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart disease.

A balanced diet for CKD patients

In addition,a balanced diet can reduce the production of wastes and decrease workload on kidneys.

Protein intake

Healthy kidneys normally eliminate nitrogen and creatinine from body.However,extra protein can increase the production of these two wastes,thus causing extra strain on kidneys.Eating less protein can keep the patients with CKD healthier.

What is recommended amount of protein in your diet? Chat with our online doctor for an answer now!

Sodium and potassium

Healthy kidneys can eliminate excess sodium from body, but the diseased kidneys fail to do so, leading to high blood pressure or swelling.A diet low in salt should be followed with less consumption of processed product,canned soups and fast foods.

The patients may need more or less potassium in CKD, so talk to a dietitian about whether you should cut down potassium in your diet.

Other nutrients

The patients may also need to limit intake of fluid to reduce strain on kidneys and retention of fluid in body.Monitor the levels of calcium and phosphors. Keeping balance of these two kinds of minerals can keep the bone healthy.

As the illness condition varies from individual to individual, the recommended diet and exercise should also be different. Email to and get a personalized diet and fitness regime.