Low kidney function (Chronic Kidney Disease) is primarily caused by diabetes and high blood pressure, which damage blood vessels, but other factors include inherited conditions (like Polycystic Kidney Disease), autoimmune diseases, urinary tract blockages (stones, enlarged prostate), infections, certain medications (NSAIDs, lithium), heart failure, and severe dehydration. These conditions progressively reduce the kidneys' ability to filter waste, often without early symptoms.
Having long-standing high blood pressure, diabetes or an autoimmune disease such as lupus can cause damage to the kidneys. Regular checkups to monitor how well the kidneys are working may include blood tests and tests to check for protein in the urine.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the top culprits damaging kidneys most, as they harm the delicate filtering blood vessels, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and failure; other major factors include smoking, obesity, dehydration, poor diet (high sugar/salt/red meat), certain medications (NSAIDs), lack of sleep, and genetic conditions. These factors create a cycle where damaged kidneys worsen blood pressure, further damaging them.
When kidneys cannot remove waste from your body, a rash can develop. One rash that occurs in people who have end-stage kidney disease causes small, dome-shaped, and extremely itchy bumps. As these bumps clear, new ones can form.
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Kidney disease can affect anyone at any age. Babies can be born with kidneys that haven't developed normally or don't function normally. Genetic alterations can result in kidney diseases developing during childhood or later in life. Other types of kidney disease can develop at any age.
Kidney damage repair depends on the type: acute kidney injury (AKI) can often be reversed as the kidney heals itself, but chronic kidney disease (CKD) damage is generally irreversible, though its progression can be significantly slowed with lifestyle changes, medications (like SGLT2 inhibitors), and managing underlying conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, with advanced stages requiring dialysis or transplant for survival.
If your kidneys aren't working properly, you may notice one or more of the following signs:
Itching often happens on both sides of the body at the same time (for example, both arms or both legs). Itching is most common and severe in people with kidney failure,but those in the earlier stages of CKD may also notice milder itching.
The urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder through two thin tubes of muscle called ureters, one on each side of your bladder. Your bladder stores urine. Your kidneys, ureters, and bladder are part of your urinary tract.
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Urea is carried in the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it is removed along with water and other wastes in the form of urine. Other important functions of the kidneys include blood pressure regulation and the production of erythropoietin, which controls red blood cell production in the bone marrow.
The main test for kidney disease is a blood test. The test measures the levels of a waste product called creatinine in your blood. A doctor uses your blood test results, plus your age, size, and gender to calculate how many millilitres of waste your kidneys should be able to filter in a minute.
Typically, people lose kidney function by about 1% a year after age 50. If you have a decline in kidney function faster than the regular rate associated with aging, you are in trouble. There are things you can do or avoid to forestall further renal decline, particularly in the realm of lifestyle modifications.
The most common causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adults are diabetes and high blood pressure.
Symptoms can include:
You can check kidney function at home using at-home test kits for urine (detecting protein/albumin) or finger-prick blood tests (checking creatinine/eGFR), often with smartphone apps for analysis, or by monitoring symptoms like increased nighttime urination (nocturia), swelling, or changes in urine (blood, foam) and discussing results with a doctor, as home tests screen but don't replace professional diagnosis.
Water is the best beverage for supporting kidney health. It helps flush out toxins, maintains electrolyte balance, and prevents dehydration. Drinking at least 8–10 glasses of water daily is essential for anyone in recovery, especially those enrolled in an Alcohol Treatment Program or Drug Rehab Programs.
Symptoms of kidney disease
There's no cure for chronic kidney disease (CKD), but treatment can help relieve the symptoms and stop it getting worse.
People with kidney disease may notice that their nails are yellow or discolored. If the kidneys are not functioning properly, they can't effectively filter out waste products, including nitrogen waste, which can lead to changes in the color and texture of the nails, making them appear pale or yellowish.
Special renal vitamins are usually prescribed to provide extra water soluble vitamins needed. Renal vitamins contain vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin and a small dose of vitamin C.
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Acute kidney failure can be caused by factors like severe dehydration, infections, or blockages. The good news is that with the right treatment, it's often possible to reverse kidney disease in these cases. Your kidneys can return to normal function after the underlying issue is resolved.