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.