Kidney disorders
What is Kidney disorders?
Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that sit below your rib cage on either side of your spine. They filter waste and extra fluid from your blood to make urine. Your kidneys also balance important minerals like sodium, potassium, and chloride in your body. When your kidneys stop working properly, waste builds up in your blood and can make you sick.
Kidney disorders include many different conditions that damage your kidneys over time. Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common types. It happens when your kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter blood. Acute kidney injury is when your kidneys suddenly stop working well. Both conditions need medical attention to prevent serious health problems.
About 37 million American adults have chronic kidney disease. Many people don't know they have it because early kidney damage often causes no symptoms. Blood tests can catch kidney problems before you feel sick. Finding kidney issues early gives you time to protect your remaining kidney function and avoid complications.
Symptoms
- Feeling tired or weak even after resting
- Trouble concentrating or thinking clearly
- Swelling in your ankles, feet, or around your eyes
- Dry, itchy skin that won't go away
- Needing to urinate more often, especially at night
- Seeing blood in your urine or foamy urine
- Puffy eyes or face in the morning
- Muscle cramps, especially in your legs
- Loss of appetite or food tasting different
- Nausea or vomiting
Many people with early kidney disease have no symptoms at all. Your kidneys can lose up to 90% of their function before you feel sick. This is why regular blood testing is so important for catching kidney problems early.
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Causes and risk factors
Diabetes and high blood pressure cause about two-thirds of all chronic kidney disease cases. High blood sugar from diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys over time. High blood pressure puts extra strain on the filtering units in your kidneys. Both conditions slowly destroy kidney tissue if not well controlled. Other causes include autoimmune diseases, infections, kidney stones, and inherited conditions like polycystic kidney disease.
Your risk for kidney disorders increases if you have a family history of kidney disease, are over age 60, have heart disease, or are obese. Certain medications can harm your kidneys if used long-term, including some pain relievers and antibiotics. Smoking damages blood vessels throughout your body, including in your kidneys. Dehydration, especially when repeated over time, can also stress your kidneys and lead to damage.
How it's diagnosed
Doctors diagnose kidney disorders using blood tests and urine tests. Blood tests measure waste products like creatinine and urea nitrogen that build up when kidneys fail. They also check electrolyte levels like chloride, sodium, and potassium. Low chloride levels can signal chronic kidney disease because healthy kidneys help maintain proper chloride balance. Your doctor calculates your estimated glomerular filtration rate, or eGFR, from your creatinine level to see how well your kidneys filter blood.
Rite Aid offers blood testing that includes chloride and other key biomarkers for kidney health. Our flagship panel tests over 200 biomarkers to give you a detailed picture of your kidney function. You can get tested at any Quest Diagnostics location near you. If your results show signs of kidney problems, your doctor may order additional tests like a urine albumin test or kidney imaging.
Treatment options
- Control blood sugar levels if you have diabetes through diet, exercise, and medication
- Lower blood pressure to below 130/80 with lifestyle changes and blood pressure medications
- Eat less salt to reduce fluid buildup and lower blood pressure
- Limit protein intake as directed by your doctor to reduce waste in your blood
- Stay hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day
- Quit smoking to protect your blood vessels and slow kidney damage
- Exercise for 30 minutes most days to improve blood pressure and blood sugar
- Take medications like ACE inhibitors or ARBs to protect kidney function
- Avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen that can damage kidneys over time
- Work with a kidney specialist, called a nephrologist, for advanced kidney disease
Concerned about Kidney disorders? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Early kidney disease often has no symptoms at all. Your kidneys can lose most of their function before you notice anything wrong. When symptoms do appear, they may include fatigue, trouble sleeping, swelling in your feet or ankles, and changes in urination. This is why regular blood testing is the best way to catch kidney problems early.
Chloride is an electrolyte that helps balance fluids in your body. Your kidneys play a key role in keeping chloride levels in the right range. Low chloride levels can be a sign of chronic kidney disease because damaged kidneys may not regulate electrolytes properly. Blood tests measure chloride along with other markers to assess kidney function.
It depends on the type and stage of kidney disease. Acute kidney injury can sometimes be reversed if treated quickly. Chronic kidney disease usually cannot be reversed, but you can slow or stop its progression. Early treatment with lifestyle changes and medications can protect your remaining kidney function for many years.
If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease, get tested at least once a year. People over age 60 or with other risk factors should also test annually. If you have known kidney disease, your doctor may want to check your blood work every 3 to 6 months to monitor progression.
Foods high in sodium, like processed meats, canned soups, and fast food, can raise blood pressure and harm your kidneys. Too much protein from red meat and dairy can make damaged kidneys work harder. Foods high in phosphorus, such as dark sodas and packaged foods with additives, can be problematic in advanced kidney disease. Your doctor or dietitian can give you personalized guidance.
Staying hydrated helps your kidneys flush out waste and toxins. Drinking enough water can prevent kidney stones and reduce the risk of infections. However, people with advanced kidney disease may need to limit fluids because damaged kidneys cannot handle excess water. Ask your doctor how much water is right for your situation.
ACE inhibitors and ARBs are blood pressure medications that protect your kidneys by reducing pressure in the filtering units. SGLT2 inhibitors, a newer type of diabetes medication, also slow kidney disease progression. Your doctor may prescribe medications to control blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol to protect your kidneys from further damage.
Many people with early stage kidney disease live full, active lives with proper management. Controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, eating a kidney-friendly diet, and taking medications as prescribed can slow disease progression. Regular monitoring helps you catch problems early. Even people on dialysis can work, travel, and enjoy hobbies with some adjustments.
Acute kidney injury happens suddenly, often from infection, dehydration, or medication. It may resolve completely with treatment. Chronic kidney disease develops slowly over months or years and is usually permanent. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of chronic kidney disease.
See a nephrologist if your eGFR is below 30 or dropping quickly. You should also see a specialist if you have protein in your urine, blood in your urine that won't go away, or kidney disease from an unclear cause. Your primary care doctor may refer you earlier if your kidney disease is hard to manage or progressing despite treatment.