What Is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?
Chronic kidney disease is a condition in which your kidneys aren’t working as well as they should. Their job is to filter waste and extra water from your blood. When they slow down, waste can build up and affect your overall health.
What Causes It?
The most common causes are:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Other risk factors include:
- Family history of kidney problems
- Older age
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Autoimmune diseases (like lupus)
- Having protein in your urine
- Certain high-risk populations
What Are the Symptoms?
CKD often has no symptoms until the kidneys are very severely damaged. As it worsens, you may notice:
- Swelling in your legs or feet
- Tiredness or low energy
- Poor appetite
- Nausea
- Trouble thinking clearly
- Changes in urination
- High blood pressure
Even in later stages, most people still make a normal amount of urine—it just doesn’t remove waste products from your body well.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Your Renal Specialists of Houston provider will evaluate blood and urine tests:
- eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) shows how well your kidneys filter waste.
- Urine tests check for protein (a sign of kidney damage).
- Imaging (like ultrasound) looks for blockages or other issues.
- Kidney biopsy (sometimes) helps find the cause.
Can It Be Treated?
Yes. While CKD often can’t be cured, treatment can slow it down and help prevent complications.
Treatment may include:
- Controlling blood pressure
- Managing diabetes
- Avoiding medications that may harm kidneys
Prescribing medications that may help the kidneys such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEI/ARB). Medications such as SGLT-2 inhibitors, finerenone, or semaglutide may also be beneficial
- Eating a kidney-friendly diet
- Treating anemia
- Lowering high cholesterol
- Avoiding smoking
Your kidney doctor (nephrologist) will guide your care, especially if the disease progresses.
What Happens if Kidneys Get Worse?
If kidney function drops too low, treatments like dialysis or a kidney transplant may be needed. Planning ahead for these options can make the transition easier and safer.
Things to Talk to Your Renal Specialists of Houston Provider About:
- What stage is my kidney disease?
- What can I do to slow it down?
- What should I eat or avoid?
- Am I a candidate for transplant in the future?
At Renal Specialists of Houston, we provide you with personalized management of your chronic kidney disease. We will not only help you understand your disease process, but will also work with you to implement strategies to delay kidney failure for as long as possible. Make an appointment with us and take a proactive step towards optimizing your kidney health!