Are there any signs of kidney function falling below 50%? Doctors reveal 6 major risk groups for "chronic kidney disease": Symptoms may be in the terminal stage
The kidneys are bad but the body is “feeling nothing”? What problems will occur if kidney function decreases?
The kidney function has been damaged, but the body may be completely “indifferent”? Which populations can be considered high-risk groups? Dr. Wu Maisi, chairman of the Kidney Disease Prevention and Treatment Foundation, said that there are no obvious symptoms in the early stages of chronic kidney disease. Usually, when the disease has progressed to the third or fourth stage, uremia symptoms of varying degrees will gradually appear, making patients aware of the disease. Further medical examination is required.
The kidneys are an important filtration system in the human body. They are responsible for purifying blood, removing excess water and waste, maintaining a balanced mineral content, regulating and controlling blood pressure, and assisting in the production of blood system and vitamin D. Once the kidney tissue suffers irreparable damage, it will cause the kidney function to gradually decline, making the body unable to naturally eliminate metabolic waste from the body, and the kidney function will be impaired for months or years, which is the occurrence of “chronic kidney disease”.
Are there any signs of kidney function falling below 50%? Symptoms of “water-induced fatigue and fatigue” may be in the terminal stage
The kidney is one of the organs with the most powerful compensatory function in the human body. Even if the kidney function is less than 50%, there may be no obvious symptoms. Dr. Wu Maisi pointed out that kidney function is clinically divided into five stages, and the ability of the renal glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to remove waste is used as an indicator. During the first and second stages of the disease, although the kidney function is somewhat A slight decrease does not affect the function of the kidneys, and there are usually no symptoms. However, once symptoms such as “bubbles, water, high blood pressure, poverty, and fatigue” appear, it means that the disease has progressed to the third and fourth stages before end-stage renal disease. .
When kidney damage is severe, the five major symptoms of “bubbles, water, highness, poverty, and fatigue” will be caused due to the decrease in the ability of kidney function to regulate. They refer to “bubble urine” and “edema of the limbs” caused by excessive protein in the urine. “, and after the original function of the kidneys to regulate blood pressure and produce red blood cells is affected, symptoms of “hypertension” and “anemia” will also occur. When the body’s ability to remove waste is reduced, the patient will obviously feel “tired”, weak, and incapable of doing anything. Mentally, this is also the symptom that most patients have when they seek medical treatment.
Not only do high blood pressure and obesity make the kidneys “overworked”? 6 high-risk groups should be checked regularly
According to statistics from the 2022 Taiwan Kidney Disease Annual Report, before chronic kidney disease progresses to end-stage renal disease, up to 80% of patients have high blood pressure, 40% have diabetes, and 30% have chronic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, reflecting kidney function. The causes of damage are closely related to chronic diseases such as the three high blood pressures. For example, high blood pressure can affect chronic inflammation of the kidneys, and long-term poor blood sugar control can damage nephrons and cause diabetic nephropathy.
Obesity is the most common civilized disease among modern people, and it is also closely related to kidney disease. Dr. Wu Maisi explained that overweight or obese people with a BMI greater than 24 are not only important triggers of the three high blood pressure, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia and metabolic syndrome, but also increase the pressure on the kidneys. In addition, with the advent of an aging society, organ decline caused by age cannot be ignored. Elderly people over 65 years old should pay early attention to related indicators such as glomerular filtration rate and urinary albumin.
Dr. Wu Maisi also reminded that if you have a family history of chronic kidney disease, or if you take multiple medications for a long time due to personal factors, you will have a higher risk of kidney function damage. In particular, smoking can stimulate renal vasoconstriction and form long-term renal hypertension, which will cause considerable damage to kidney health. The above-mentioned six major risk groups are reminded to check their kidney function regularly for early prevention and treatment.
Can patients with chronic kidney disease return to normal life with regular check-ups and daily diet control?
The prevalence rate of chronic kidney disease in Taiwan is about 12%, and 1 in every 8 adults is developing kidney disease. Since chronic kidney disease has no obvious symptoms in the early stage, more than 90% of early-stage kidney disease patients are not aware of it, resulting in missing golden treatment. stage, and had already entered end-stage renal disease when discovered. For high-risk groups, the functional index of glomerular filtration rate can be detected through regular health examinations such as blood drawing, and urine tests can detect whether there is proteinuria in the urine.
Dr. Wu Maisi said that patients with kidney disease can significantly reduce the burden on their kidneys by cooperating with dietitians to control their intake of protein-rich meat and controlling their daily water intake. As for social support, it is recommended that kidney patients share the correct knowledge about chronic kidney disease with their family and friends to improve the overall community’s understanding of chronic kidney disease. The most important thing is to regularly track the kidney function index and use related drugs that help protect kidney health as prescribed by the doctor. Through diet, drugs and exercise, patients with chronic kidney disease can also maintain a good quality of life.
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