Chronic kidney disease is characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function. The kidneys are vital for filtering excess fluids and wastes from the blood. With advanced kidney disease, there is a dangerous build-up of wastes, fluids, and electrolytes in the body. In many cases, people aren’t aware that they have the disease until they are in the advanced stages. While chronic kidney disease is an irreversible condition, there are ways to slow kidney disease progression. Here are six things you can do to slow down the progression of kidney disease.
Go For Regular Checkups
Certain individuals have a higher risk of developing kidney disease due to having high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, being overweight, or having a family history of kidney disease. It’s very important to go for regular kidney screening tests if you have any of the above conditions. The two main screening tests are the urine test and the blood test. The urine test will reveal the albumin levels in your urine. If the test shows that you have this protein in your urine, it means that your kidneys are not filtering your blood properly. The blood test is taken to check your creatinine levels. This waste product builds up in your blood when there is kidney damage. Using a mathematical formula, your GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is calculated. While a normal GFR is above 90, if yours is anywhere between 60 and 90, you may have early-stage kidney disease.