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THE BEAN:
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 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is the gradual decline of kidney function over time. This decline can be accelerated by other chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart conditions. Is it possible that this can be prevented? Once we hit our 40s, our kidney function naturally begins to decline, even without us having done something to cause it. However, there are things we can do to help prevent or slow this decline. This includes:
In short, kidney disease is preventable to some extent. We can delay or reduce the effects by being proactive with our health and making healthy life choices. Remember, change does not need to happen overnight. Small changes made over time can help improve your health. Being better by 1% each day is still an improvement. More information on each of these topics is available on our blog as well. If you have any questions or concerns about your kidney health, please call our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Munjal to discuss. As always, stay safe and healthy! Related Blog Posts: Getting Healthy for Your Kidneys Safe Exercises for Older Adults or Adults with Limitations Kidney Korner: Fluid Intake- How Much is Too Much? The Importance of Routine Care NSAIDs and Your Kidneys  Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is the gradual decline of kidney function over time. Once we hit our 40s, our kidney function naturally begins to decline, even without us having done something to cause it. This decline can be accelerated by other chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart conditions. It is important to understand how CKD is assessed, what the different stages are, and what they mean.
How it is Measured There are two important numbers to consider when looking at kidney function: creatinine and eGFR. Creatinine is a measurement of the amount of toxins in the blood or urine. eGFR is a calculation of the kidney function. We will be focusing on eGFR for this post. The Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 1: Kidney damage with a normal kidney function, with an eGFR of 90 or higher Stage 2: Mild loss of kidney function, with an eGFR between 60 and 89 Stage 3: Stage 3 has two sub-stages, 3A and 3B. 3A is moderate loss of kidney function, with an eGFR of 45-59. 3B is moderate to severe loss of kidney function, with an eGFR of 30-44. Stage 4: Severe loss of kidney function, with an eGFR of 15-29 Stage 5: Kidney failure with need for transplantation or dialysis, with an eGFR of <15 Living with CKD can be managed through a number of different options like diet, regular movement, and proper medication usage, as well as managing other contributing factors, like the ones listed above. Munjal’s Musings “Many people can live long, healthy lives with only one healthy kidney. That is only 50% of the kidney function, or Stage 3 CKD.” Chronic Kidney Disease does not mean you are headed for the dialysis chair. Have an open, honest discussion with your care team about where you stand, your options, and how to continue living your best life. If you have questions or concerns about your kidney function, call our office to make an appointment with Dr. Munjal. As always, stay safe and healthy!  Kidney problems can be complex, developing suddenly or over a long period of time. The difference lies in the cause and treatment of the acute and chronic kidney problems.
The Difference AKI: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is the sudden, severe onset of kidney failure. This is generally caused by or related to a drug, urinary obstructions, dehydration, illnesses, and/or massive blood loss. It is likely that, after treatment, your kidney function will return to your normal baseline. CKD: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is the gradual decline of kidney function over time, usually without symptoms until it is severe. Once we hit our 40s, our kidney function naturally starts to decline. This natural decline can be accelerated by other conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart conditions. With CKD, we hope to keep the decline steady and stable. Treatment AKI: The underlying cause of the kidney injury needs to be identified, assessed, and treated to help the kidney function return to the normal baseline. Additionally, patients may receive fluids, medications, or undergo a few treatments of dialysis until the kidneys can recover adequately. Dialysis is meant to take over the function of the kidneys. Treatment should be temporary, with minimal follow-up needed. CKD: Contributing conditions should be monitored and managed. CKD requires regular monitoring by a nephrologist. CKD can lead to other complications if not properly followed and managed with diet, regular movement, proper medication usage, and regular lab work as prescribed by your physician. Munjal’s Musings “Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) are like car maintenance. CKD is normal wear and tear that happens over time. After 10 years of use, your car doesn’t have the same get-up-and-go like it did on the day you got it. AKI is like a flat tire. You patch the hole and you’re back to normal.” Remember to keep your annual appointments with your Primary Care and regular nephrology follow-ups to monitor and detect trends in health changes.If you are concerned about your kidney function, call to make an appointment to discuss with Dr. Munjal. As always, stay safe and healthy!  Each year we set out as The Dream Team to walk a 5k with the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) to raise awareness for kidney diseases. As a team, we raise funds to help the NKF provide assistance to those needing treatments and resources. Read more about the kidneys and our fundraising efforts below!
Kidney Facts: Kidney disease is known as the silent killer. It is so important for us to help raise awareness to empower others to keep up with their health. Here are some kidney disease facts from the National Kidney Foundation to kick-start our mission this year:
Our Fundraising Efforts In the past, we have created a variety of activities for our patients, staff, family, and friends to participate in. These include:
As an added bonus this year, our team came together to empower ourselves and get healthy for our kidneys in March. We aimed to walk an average of 7,500 steps a day and a total of 100 miles each by the end of the month. To help facilitate healthy changes, we also learned to track our nutrition and more about getting healthy for our kidneys. At the end of March, we walked 2,668,595 steps, totaling 1,334 miles! Join us on the walk this year virtually or at Riverside Park on Sunday, May 19th, at 7:30am. To learn more, go to https://www.kidneywalk.org/jacksonville or https://www.jaxnephrology.com/dream-team.html. As always, stay safe and healthy! |
