Chronic Kidney Disease - Causes and Risk Factors

Drawing on over 30 years of medical experience, Dr. Rex Mahnensmith has served patients at the StayWell Health Center in Waterbury, Connecticut, since 2015. Dr. Rex Mahnensmith has experience treating a number of significant health conditions, including chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease, or chronic kidney failure, is the medical term used to describe the gradual loss of proper kidney function. Chronic kidney disease is a progressive condition that can culminate in a patient requiring life-saving kidney dialysis. While the effects of the disease can be mitigated and managed, particularly with early intervention, individuals should do everything in their power to maintain healthy kidney function.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes represents one of the most common diseases that places excess stress on the kidneys. Other diseases that pose a similar threat include polycystic kidney disease, interstitial nephritis and glomerulonephritis, and vesicoureteral reflux. Physical injuries or conditions can also lead to chronic kidney disease, such as an extended blockage of the urinary tract.

Finally, a variety of risk factors can elevate a person’s chances of developing chronic kidney disease. In addition to diabetes, individuals living with cardiovascular disease are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease than those with regular blood pressure levels. Smoking, obesity, and advanced age are also risk factors.

Potential Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease

Dr. Rex Mahnensmith joined the StayWell Health Center in Waterbury, Connecticut, as an internal medicine physician in 2015. In this position, Dr. Rex Mahnensmith primarily diagnoses and treats patients living with chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), sometimes referred to as chronic kidney failure, is the gradual and consistent loss of proper kidney functions, a condition that can lead to dangerous levels of fluid, electrolyte, and waste build up throughout the body. Treatment of CKD involves identifying the cause of kidney failure and taking the appropriate steps to mitigate further damage.

In the early stages, symptoms and signs of CKD can be hard to pinpoint. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience any number of non-specific symptoms, including changes in sleeping patterns, impaired mental acuity, nausea and vomiting, and hypertension. Fluid build ups in certain parts of the body can trigger additional symptoms. For example, build ups around the lining of the heart can result in chest pain, while shortness of breath may indicate fluid build-ups in the lungs.

Individuals who feel they may be living with symptoms of kidney disease should reach out to a trusted medical professional for further testing.