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Kidney test may help improve quality of life

Updated: 2009-08-07 15:12:08 CST Category: Kidney Diseases

by Laurent Castellucci

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) eventually results in the complete and permanent loss of kidney function. Often a genetic condition that is passed down in families, it can also result from diabetes, high blood pressure or even physical injury that damages the kidneys.

The disease tends to develop slowly and without symptoms in its early stages. It can be detected through kidney blood tests and urine tests as well.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) estimates that the number of people with kidney failure in the U.S. may be as high as 700,000 by 2010, almost twice as many as there were in 2000.

A new survey of patients with CKD appearing in the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology found that quality of life scores declined quickly with the severity of kidney disease, more quickly among women than among men.

Early warning of CKD through a kidney test can help a patient stave off the effects of the disease. The NIDDK recommends controlling blood sugar and blood pressure if diabetes or hypertension may be causing CDK and avoiding too much protein in your diet so as lighten the workload the kidneys must endure.

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