Chronic Kidney Disease
What is CKD-No prevention without awareness
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means your kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood the way they should. The disease is called “chronic” because the damage to your kidneys happens slowly over a long period of time. In the early stages of the disease, most people do not have symptoms. But as CKD gets worse, wastes can build up in your blood and make you feel sick.
The two main causes of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure. Treatment for chronic kidney disease focuses on slowing the progression of the kidney damage, usually by controlling the underlying cause.
Once kidneys fail, dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to stay alive. This stage of CKD is known as kidney failure, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), or end-stage renal disease (ESRD).