Risks of Kidney Disease

The kidneys are two small, bean-shaped organs that are located in the lower back on either side of the spinal column. The kidneys may be small, but they serve a very important purpose. The kidneys are responsible for removing waste from the body through their unique filtering system.

Blood from the body is filtered through the kidneys. The kidneys will then remove excess water, toxins, by-products of vitamins and supplements and anything else that is not needed by the body. The waste is then turned into urine and transported to the bladder to be eliminated.

There is a difference between kidney failure and kidney disease. Kidney failure is when the kidneys lose the ability to carry out normal function. In kidney failure, the kidneys may be partially or totally impaired. Kidney failure is extremely dangerous because toxins will quickly build up in the body. The good news is that kidney failure usually does not lead to permanent kidney damage. Kidney failure can be treated with the right medications.

Kidney disease is a condition in which the kidneys become impaired over a long period of time. This will cause permanent damage to the kidneys. Chronic kidney disease is divided into five stages. The fifth stage of kidney disease is also known as end stage renal disease. This stage will usually require a kidney transplant or dialysis.

The risks of kidney disease are usually the result of other diseases of the body that will damage the kidneys. The two main risks of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause a condition known as diabetic neuropathy. This condition will affect the network of tiny blood vessels that run through the glomerulus. The glomerulus is the main part of the kidney that is responsible for filtering the toxins from the blood.

High blood pressure that is left untreated is another common cause of kidney disease. The kidneys play a major role in keeping the blood pressure under control by secreting a specific hormone. Factors such as being overweight or high sodium levels can be responsible for high blood pressure. But high blood pressure does not always have a specific cause.

Diabetes and high blood pressure are the main risks of kidney disease. But there are many other causes of kidney disease that may not be quite as common, but they are just as dangerous. The excessive use of pain killers can cause kidney disease. High cholesterol and lupus can put a person at a higher risk of developing kidney disease. Family history may play a part in the development of kidney disease.

Kidney disease can be treated with the right medication and diet. If you have kidney disease or if you think that you may be at risk for developing kidney disease, you should be under the close supervision of a kidney specialist.