So, you have been diagnosed with kidney disease…now what? Treatment should begin right away to reduce symptoms and assist with slowing the progression of kidney function decline. The ways in which your kidney disease is treated will depend on the stage of the disease and your current kidney health.
Can Chronic Kidney Disease Be Treated?
Some types of kidney disease, if detected early on, can be treated. Your kidneys may regain optimal function once the cause has been found and treatment has begun. An example of this would be stopping medication that could be harming your kidneys.
For chronic kidney disease, however, the decline in kidney health has progressed over years and has likely caused damage that cannot be reversed. Currently, there is no cure for CKD. Still, treatment is very important to help slow the progression of this condition.
How Do You Treat Chronic Kidney Disease?
Once you have been diagnosed with CKD through a medical evaluation and blood tests, your doctor will determine which stage of the disorder your current situation lives within. The treatment methods used will be based on the stage at which your kidney health has declined.
Medication is common for the earlier stages of CKD, as it helps to manage the symptoms of your condition. You may also have to take note of other medical ailments you have, and treat them accordingly to help prevent the progression of your CKD.
For example, high blood pressure and diabetes are common causes of chronic kidney disease. If you have either of these – or develop them after being diagnosed with CKD, you will want to make sure you are treating them effectively to prevent further harm to your kidneys.
Later stages may have to consider other interventions, including dialysis – where a machine filters acts as your kidneys to filter the excess fluid and wastes from your bloodstream. Peritoneal dialysis may also be an option, which is a home treatment option that uses your abdominal lining to clean the blood once the kidneys cannot effectively do so.
In extreme cases, CKD patients may undergo a kidney transplant to replace a diseased kidney with a healthier one from a living donor or one that has passed away.
How to Treat Chronic Kidney Disease Naturally
While you still need to be monitored by a doctor for your medical condition, there are some natural ways you can help your body with chronic kidney disease.
- Proper Diet – Follow the renal diet restrictions and guidelines given to your by your doctor or dietician. Choose meals and snacks that are low in potassium, phosphorus, protein, and sodium to reduce the workload on your kidneys and their need to filter wastes from the blood.
- Exercise – Staying active is a great way to keep your body healthy in spite of CKD. Regular exercise can help lower your blood pressure, lose unneeded weight, and reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke.
- Stop Smoking – Smoking is harmful to your body in many ways, more so than just affecting your lungs. Smoking can narrow your arteries, which may increase your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke. Since CKD itself can increase your risk of these medical conditions, you will want to stop smoking to avoid further damage to your body.
Wrap Up
It’s essential that you learn about how chronic kidney disease is treated in order to stay as healthy as you can after your diagnosis. Find out all you can about the different treatment options available to you and develop a plan for treatment with your doctor right away. Take your medication as directed to slow the disease’s progression.
Treating chronic kidney disease naturally is important too, since your lifestyle can lead to further complications with the condition or related ones. Follow the renal diet you will be given and stay active to keep your body healthy.
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