The two most common causes of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) are diabetes and high blood pressure. Diabetes is a condition characterised by high blood sugar. Overtime, if the high levels of blood sugar is not controlled, the tiny filtering unit of the kidney is destroyed, leading to kidney failure.

High blood pressure is when the force of blood in your blood vessels is very high (more than 140/90mmHg). Blood is supplied to the Kidneys by network of blood vessels. If the pressure is high and uncontrolled (Hypertension) this causes the blood vessels around the kidneys to narrowed, weaken and harden affecting the amount of blood supplied to the kidneys. If the blood supply to the kidney is reduced, the kidney tissue is deprived of nutrients and oxygen which eventually affects the function of kidney leading to kidney failure. 

There are other kidney problems that can lead to CKD, such as:

• Glomerulonephritis – This a diseased condition of the kidneys and it is caused when the filters of the kidneys called Glumeroli are inflamed or injured.
• Polycystic kidney disease – is a genetic disease which causes a cysts (a sac pocket filled with fluid or air) to grow inside the kidneys. These cysts make the kidneys larger than they should be and damage the kidneys leading to Kidney Failure.
• Lupus nephritis – this is an autoimmune disease that is, when your immune system attacks your kidneys.
• Kidney cancer –  is a disease in which kidney cells become cancerous and grow out of control, forming a tumour.

Who is more likely to get CKD?

Anyone can get CKD, but some people have a higher chance, such as people who:

• Have diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease
• Have a close family member with kidney disease
• Are you over age 60 
• Obesity

Book a Kidney function test on Booking Portal (healthneutron.com) if you have any of these risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease.