Conservative management of kidney disease

Can we delay progression of chronic kidney disease?

Witnessing the tremendous achievements in the medical field, it has become possible to make the progression of chronic kidney disease inevitable. The recent advancements in the field of CKD manages the diseases involved with other individual problems like patients suffering from diabetes, kidney disease, chronic glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, renal amyloidosis, and chronic tubulointerstitial disease.

The progression of CKD is quite panicking for the patient but obviously possible through different trials.

First of all, let us understand what is actually a progression of CKD. The chronic kidney disease is slowly progressive in nature and it leads to the irreversible nephron loss, serious conditions such as end stage renal disease or even premature death. Factors contributing to the CKD progression is parenchymal cell loss, chronic inflammation, fibrosis and decreased regenerative capacity of the kidney.

Steps to control the progression of stage 3 kidney disease includes

  • Maintaining a proper kidney friendly diet.
  • Following medications on given time.
  • Implementing exercising on a daily lifestyle recommended by dieticians.
  • Try to maintain a healthy weight.
  • Quit harming activities such as smoking, drinking alcohol etc.
  • kidney patients are more prone to cardiovascular diseases so try to limit foods that are high in potassium salt specially some of the processed foods.

How can you prolong kidney disease?

You can easily protect your kidneys by managing your health conditions that are related to kidney disease such as diabetes ,high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases etc. Here are some of the tips that keep your body healthy including your most vital organ, the kidneys.

  • Do visit for medical check-ups and dietician regularly.
  • Make a healthy choice of food.
  • Selecting a diet plan should be done very wisely that should be healthy for your kidneys as well as your entire body. Eat healthy food start, cut salt and sugar content especially the added sugar products. You can set your sodium content to be around 2 milligram per day and if you can manage then completely avoid it.
  • Also try to lessen about 10% of calories that comes from added sugars.

Tips to make a healthy choice of food includes:- 

  • Add some herbs instead of salt.
  • Make healthy vegetable salad or fruit salad with added herbs as toppings.
  • Eat foods without gravy. Whenever eating a vegetable, strain its water after boiling.
  • Choose fruits with no sugar.
  • drink fat free milk.
  • You can eat toast and sandwiches as a substitute for brown or white rice.
  • Implement physical activity as a part of your routine

Try to be active for at least 30 minutes or more to regulate the increase of blood circulation in the body. Consult your healthcare provider, he will help you to filter out the best possible active routines.

  • Plan for healthy weight

Losing weight is one of the common consequences in CKD patients. So try to aim for healthy weight that is, if you’re obese, create a weight loss plan or if you are not then make it out to get a healthy weight.

  • Sleep enough

Maintain a proper sleeping schedule that aims for at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep as it will help the mind to relax and work for your body.

  • Explorer some stress relieving activities

The best medicine to cure diseases is to stop over thinking about it all the time and form a better life that makes you more relaxed and stress free. you can engage with other people, read some holistic books or novels,, do meditation yoga, play with kids or pets, also you can engage yourself in different social activities.

  • Manage other related diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases first.

If you have such problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure ,heart disease along with CKD, then look up to these symptoms first and maintain a proper healthy diet along with medications.. Keep your glucose level, blood pressure and medicines close to your goal.

  • Things to keep updated all the time includes
  • You’re GFR rate
  • Your urine albumin report.
  • Blood pressure
  • Your blood glucose level
  • Regular check-up of your kidneys.

Can CKD go back to normal?

  • Since, there is no exact known cure for chronic kidney disease, so the damage cannot be reversed, the treatment mainly focuses on managing the symptoms and underlying conditions related to it that controls the progression of damage such as serious weight loss, fluid build-up, congestive heart failure etc.
  • CKD when occurs in a person, shows their kidneys are no longer able to filter blood, so as it progresses, this leads to series build up of waste products in the body.
  • Chronic kidney disease is quite difficult to reverse and this must be managed through proper symptom mitigation. There are actually 5 stages of kidney disease, up to stage 2, major symptoms can be controlled through medication and lifestyle changes but the last stages are quite fatal and even show failure of organs which urgently require dialysis and transplant.

Can your GFR go back up?

  • On maintaining a healthy lifestyle and proper medications, it is possible that your GFR may increase overtime at all the stages of kidney disease according to the research.
  • The GFR rate tells a lot about your health conditions, especially your kidneys. Your GFR rate actually tells how well your kidneys are working. if it is Low, your kidneys aren’t well enough, try to switch to the treatment as soon as possible. However the normal or optimum GFR number should be more than 90 in a healthy adult.
  • Let us first look to the GFR at different stages of kidney disease

stage one =90 or above

stage 2 =60 to 89 – mild decrease in gfr 

stage 3 =32 to 59 – moderate decrease GFR, shows kidney damage.

Stage 4 =15 to 29, severe reduction in GFR, increased kidney damage.

Stage 5 =below 15 shows kidney failure.

  • An important thing to keep in mind is the GFR is also affected by the age factor, that is your GFR rate decreases with age.
  • let’s find out how to keep your GFR rate on increasing during kidney disease first of all , this depends on the stage of kidney disease and other health problems, but you can surely make it by regulating following things in your life
  1. control your blood pressure
  2. control your blood sugar
  3. treat other health conditions first
  4. treat other health conditions first
  5. follow a healthy lifestyle
  6. do regular check-ups.

Can kidney disease get better?

  • A kidney disease probably means your kidneys aren’t working properly. If not controlled, kidney complications keep worsening and ultimately leads to chronic kidney disease which has no cure. The two known causes of CKD are high blood pressure and diabetes.
  • The problem isn’t associated with your kidneys only but to the rest of your body. some other complications that you can relate when you are having CKD include
  1. Anaemia
  1. Weak bones
  2. High blood pressure
  3. Metabolic acidosis is a chemical imbalance in the body.
  4. Fluid build-up that causes swelling
  5. Fertility problems
  6. Decreased immune response
  7. Risk of cardiovascular diseases

 But the Best thing is, kidney disease can be prevented and prolonged by identifying and managing the risk factors, for that you have to

  1. Maintain your blood pressure level that is 120 by 80
  2. Follow a healthy diet, switch to look fat low salt diet
  3. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
  4. How healthy weight
  5. Don’t take non-prescribed pain relievers on your own.
  • Also, early detection and appropriate treatment with a healthy diet are important for slowing this disease process with an aim of preventing or delaying kidney failure.

Can we improve kidney function without dialysis?

  • We can delay kidney disease progression, but this is not actually true for the last stage kidney patients, their only substitute is dialysis and transplant. Since there is no cure for CKD, the only thing you can rely on is your medication and dialysis.
  • But here is some good news, you can easily manage your kidney disease even without dialysis during earlier stages by adopting healthy lifestyle changes following a kidney friendly diet. implement recommended exercise or yoga on a daily schedule as it will help you a lot.
  • Some conservative management treatment also helps in managing kidney failure. The healthcare team helps manage symptoms related to it and preserve kidney function as long as possible.
  • But do not completely stop relying on dialysis without any medical consultation as if you don’t do dialysis, your kidneys will continue to fail, eventually leading to its collapse.

How can I increase my GFR naturally?

  • The only way to cure kidney diseases is to control your symptoms and make healthy lifestyle changes. It is still possible to increase your GFR rate naturally by making certain changes.
  • Some lifestyle changes includes
  1. switch to renal friendly diet
  2. always choose fresh fruits and vegetables
  3. use non salt diet
  4. avoid processed foods
  5. Avoid phosphorus and potassium foods
  6. control your symptoms
  7. manage your high blood pressure through yoga and meditation
  8. involve in stress relieving activities
  9. limit smoking and drinking alcohol
  10. also make sure you have an ample amount of vitamin d in the body.

Can creatinine level go back to normal?

  • Increased creatinine levels in the body creates several underlying health conditions. Following the treatment of the underlying cause, the creatinine levels should remain normal.
  • Actually creatinine is a waste product of the muscles. The high levels of it indicate an unhealthy kidney.
  • Normal range of creatinine for male is 0.7 to 1.2 milligram per decilitre whereas for females it’s 0.5- 1.0 milligram per decilitre.
  • The symptoms of high creatinine levels include fluid retention, fatigue(weakness), confusion, breath shortness, chest pain, vomiting, foul smelling foamy urine, tingling hands or feet, swelling in legs, painful urination etc. If you are faced with these symptoms, you should not ignore them in the first place and hence consult a nephrologist to bring them back to normal.
  • You need to make a regular medical consultation with nephrologists that will control your creatinine levels, also to a dietician who will provide you with an effective diet chart that will help you to bring the creatinine levels back to normal.

Which fruits can reduce creatinine?

  • Creatinine builds up in the body when you are having a kidney disease. Let’s first understand what are the causes of increasing creatinine, these are
  1. Creatine supplements
  2. High intake of proteins
  3. Strenuous exercises
  4. Low blood circulation
  5. Dehydration
  6. Kidney complications

Some other diseases that can affect kidneys and simultaneously increases your creatinine levels include

  1. Diabetes
  2. Tumours
  3. Infection such as hepatitis b, HIV, syphilis.
  4. Systemic lupus erythematosus or simply lupus.

Diet tips to reduce creatinine

  • Reduce your protein intake

According to the studies, eating cooked red meat or processed meat increases creatinine levels. Because when a person eats such meat or a high protein meal, the body absorbs creatinine and further raises its level.

Instead of eating red meat, try incorporating vegetable protein sources such as beans etc.

  • Increase fibre intake

Increasing fibre intake in the body helps to manage creatinine levels, these can be found in the fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains ,seeds etc.

  • Keep yourself hydrated always

dehydration can increase creatinine levels in the body. Actually dehydration stresses your cardiovascular system, your kidneys and other systems that increase creatinine levels.

  • Take herbal supplements
  • Avoid high phosphorus vegetables and fruits such as meat, nuts, carbonated drinks, avocados, bananas, mushrooms, beats, onions, radish and tomatoes.

Why would my GFR stop suddenly?

  • GFR actually tells how well the kidneys are working and running in coordination with other systems. When GFR is low, it shows complications of kidneys and if neglected, may even result in kidney failure. Early detection of GFR lowering may help to prevent any further progression.
  • The most common cause of dropping GFR suddenly includes dehydration and volume loss. with increasing ,GFR also decreases.
  • Prolonged negligence of the symptoms and continued dehydration results in stopping GFR suddenly and leading to increased stages of kidney disease and even kidney failure.

What is the best medicine to reduce creatinine?

  • Chronic kidney disease being a widespread health problem is associated with increasing morbidity and mortality rates. Recognising CKD in its earlier stage in preventing it helps to prevent its progression and its associated complications.
  • The two widely used drugs that help in lowering serum creatinine levels are trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole, and the H2 blocker cimetidine.
  • You can easily reduce your creatinine levels by making certain changes in the lifestyle and adopting a healthy diet, the creatinine levels would be brought back to the normal value.
  • Include more and more fresh fruits and vegetables that are low in creatinine level , examples, papaya, strawberries, grapes, cranberries, dark leafy greens, cabbage.
  • Avoid taking supplements that contain creatinine.
  • Avoid taking nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs.
  • Do not take any antibiotics on your own to reduce creatinine. take a medical consultation first.
  • Avoid eating rich protein foods like meat, cheese, yogurt, chicken etc.
  • Keep yourself hydrated most of the time to avoid dehydration and stressing your kidneys anymore.
  • Do not ignore your symptoms and deal with them first.

Are there any new treatments for CKD?

  • CKD is becoming one of the major increasing diseases worldwide. It all starts with its early intervention, detection following treatment. The sooner the condition is detected the better the outcome will come.
  • The treatments involved in CKD depend on its stages. The early stage of CKD can be managed by making certain lifestyle changes accompanied with recommended medication by the nephrologist. The later stages of CKD need serious medical consultation and in severe cases, dialysis and transplantation is regarded. However there is no cure for CKD. This can be only treated by managing symptoms.
  • The advancements in new technology have helped CKD patients a lot. Many new medicines are getting patented. For example, The US Food and Drug administration recently approved Farxiga oral tablets which are used in reducing the risk of kidney failure and declining kidney function.

Another recent medicine approved by the European Union is Kerendia, it is marketed for treatment of CKD with type 2 diabetes.

  • Bardoxolone is an another masterpiece in medical field which is a novel anti inflammatory, helping in increasing estimated GFR and decreases blood urea nitrogen content, serum phosphorus and serum uric acid, ultimately aiding in treatment of chronic kidney disease

  At what creatinine level dialysis should start?

  • CKD is marked with 5 stages. The initial 3 stages can be managed through medical consultation. But the later stages of CKD require dialysis when estimated GFR drops to below 25 where kidney functioning is reduced to 15% or less.
  • When the serum creatinine levels for patients reach an alarming rate of 8 or more than, he requires dialysis.
  • In some cases of acute kidney failure, dialysis may be required for some mention time until the kidneys get better.

What are the effective home remedies to reduce creatinine?

  • Avoid taking supplements that contain creatinine.
  • Reduce high protein amounts from your diet.
  • Include more fiber.
  • Must keep track of how much liquid you would take a day. Talk to your nephrologists first.
  • Strictly reduce your salt intake.
  • Stop overusing nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs.
  • Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
  • Include major plant foods including more and more fresh fruits and vegetables everyday.
  • For adding taste , you can add herbs such as cinnamon, ginseng etc.
  • Start exercising on being recommended by a nephrologist.
  • Stop stressing over it all the time.
  • Engage in some helpful activities or you can practise yoga and meditation.

What causes creatinine to rise?

Some of the noon causes of kidney to rise are

  • Dehydration
  • High blood pressure
  • Using NSAIDs
  • Smoking and drinking alcohol
  • Eating high sodium content in food
  • Eating high phosphorus and potassium foods
  • Taking creatine rich foods
  • Trying supplements like chitosan 
  • High protein amount in diet.

What tea is good for managing creatinine levels?

  • Drinking milk tea can increase your creatinine levels. So, Avoid taking it
  • You go for some green tea or any herbal tea. You can take butterfly pea tea, chamomile tea which does not contain any caffeine.
  • Avoid iced tea.
  • Green tea is also known to reduce inflammation. Ginger tea helps in curing creatinine levels along with managing diabetes.

What vegetables are good for the kidneys?

Some healthy vegetables and food that helps in nursing your kidneys include

  1. Red bell Peppers
  2. Cabbage
  3. Cauliflower
  4. Pumpkin
  5. Spinach
  6. Capsicum
  7. blueberries
  8. Strawberries
  9. Carrots

What is the best exercise for kidney patients?

  • The best recommended exercise for kidney patients includes continuous activities such as brisk walking, freestyle dancing, yoga meditation, you can also practice acupressure.
  • But do avoid strenuous exercising ,high intensity exercise as these may put strain on kidneys and make it difficult for your body too.

 

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