{"id":638,"date":"2022-12-15T09:02:54","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T09:02:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/?p=638"},"modified":"2022-12-18T09:12:40","modified_gmt":"2022-12-18T09:12:40","slug":"chronic-kidney-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/chronic-kidney-disease-medications\/chronic-kidney-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Highlights\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>What is chronic kidney disease? It is a progressive, widespread condition that affects the kidneys.<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chronic kidney disease damages kidney function and raises the risk of strokes and heart disease.<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Early detection and treatment can help slow the progression of the disease.<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Use BidRx to find the lowest price for your chronic kidney disease medications.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic kidney disease is a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/kidneydisease\/basics.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">leading cause of death<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the U.S. It\u2019s a tricky disease to manage because there are no early symptoms of kidney failure. CKD can cause a number of complications, most of which can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication. The only treatments for end-stage kidney disease are dialysis and kidney transplant.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What Is Chronic Kidney Disease?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The kidneys are the organs that filter the blood in your body. If they are unable to fulfill this role, your blood goes unfiltered. The most common cause of death among CKD sufferers is heart disease resulting from blood impurities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CKD is considered a chronic disease because the damage it causes to your kidneys is gradual. The disease <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lancet\/article\/PIIS0140-6736(16)32064-5\/fulltext\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">does not produce early symptoms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and may go unnoticed until it becomes advanced. Thirty-seven million people have CKD, but 40% of people with reduced kidney function don\u2019t know they have it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the kidneys can no longer filter excess fluid and waste from the blood and eliminate them through urine, the first CKD symptoms appear.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every day, 360 people have kidney failure and start dialysis treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The kidneys are sturdy organs that do their job exceedingly well. They work so well that you can donate one kidney and have the remaining one take over and keep you healthy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The problem with this resilience is that you don\u2019t notice when CKD takes hold and begins degrading your kidney function. By the time symptoms surface, the disease has caused severe damage to your kidneys. To make matters worse, CKD symptoms are nonspecific. They can also be signs of many other diseases and health conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/kidney-disease\/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd\/what-is-chronic-kidney-disease#symptoms\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the symptoms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that can give you a clue about CKD? Depending on the severity of the disease, you may experience:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue and weakness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insomnia and sleep disorders<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle cramps<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nausea and vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes in urination habits<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loss of appetite<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trouble focusing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Itchy, dry skin<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weight loss<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CKD can lead to fluid buildup in various organs, like the lung, around the heart, etc. Fluid buildup can cause specific symptoms like:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortness of breath if the fluid accumulates in the lungs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chest pains if the fluid buildup occurs in the lining of the heart<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swelling ankles and feet if the fluid builds up in the extremities<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Puffy face, especially around the eyes, if the fluid affects the face\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the kidney function worsens, the symptoms get more severe. CKD is a serious disease. Patients are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lancet\/article\/PIIS0140-6736(16)32064-5\/fulltext\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">five to ten times<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> more likely to die than to reach the end stage of the disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Chronic Kidney Disease Causes<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_641\" style=\"width: 522px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-641\" class=\"wp-image-641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/2.jpeg-31.jpg\" alt=\"Measuring blood pressure\" width=\"512\" height=\"342\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-641\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">High blood pressure can be a cause and a consequence of CKD.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two most common causes of CKD. Out-of-control blood sugar wreaks havoc throughout the body, affecting organs like the blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High blood pressure can cause CKD, and CKD can cause high blood pressure. The same is true of heart disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other possible causes of CKD are:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Inherited diseases<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Conditions like polycystic kidney disease can damage the tissues of the kidney and the organ itself.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Glomerulonephritis. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK560644\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">inflammatory disease<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can affect the tissues of the kidney, leading to CKD and other problems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Autoimmune diseases. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the immune system overreacts and attacks the tissues of the body, it can damage the kidney and other organs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pre-birth malformations. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The kidney and the urinary tract may suffer malformations in the womb before birth. These disorders can cause CKD.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Urinal reflux.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This is a condition that causes urine to flow back into the kidneys.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Repeated <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7861116\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">urinary tract infections<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, and kidney tumors can also lead to CKD.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Chronic Kidney Disease Risk Factors<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes and high blood pressure are the top risk factors for CKD. The older you are, the more likely you are to develop CKD and the conditions that may cause it. There is a two-way link between heart disease and CKD. If you suffer from heart disease, you may develop CKD.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the factors that facilitate CKD are hereditary. If people in your family have kidney failure, you are more likely to develop the disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you belong to a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/kidney-disease\/race-ethnicity\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">racial or ethnic group<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that is more likely to suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes, you are at a higher risk for CKD.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Chronic Kidney Disease Diagnosis<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given its nonspecific symptoms, chronic kidney disease is difficult to diagnose. Urine and blood tests can give them clues, but doctors often discover it by chance. Kidney biopsies can confirm the presence or absence of the disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Chronic Kidney Disease Complications<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CKD can cause other diseases. There are interdependencies between CKD, heart disease, and high blood pressure. One disease can either result from or cause another. This triangle is a self-perpetuating spiral of poor quality of life and high risk of death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some patients, CKD can cause heart attacks and strokes. Those with CKD may acquire acute kidney injury from medication or sickness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other problems CKD can cause are:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loss of libido<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central nervous system damage<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anemia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decreased immunity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fluid retention<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High potassium\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnancy complications<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doctors have several options to slow the progression of this disease. Your doctor will likely recommend lifestyle changes. They will also address the causes of your kidney failure by treating high blood pressure and\/or diabetes. They may also resort to cholesterol medication to reduce blood pressure and the likelihood of strokes and heart disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthcare providers can also treat the complications, which can include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Protein intake<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Limiting protein intake can reduce the amount of waste in the blood.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bone health<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Vitamin D and calcium supplements can protect the bones.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Anemia<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Some supplements can treat anemia.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Swelling<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Medications exist that reduce swelling.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>High potassium.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In certain cases, doctors may prescribe sodium zirconium cyclosilicate to treat high potassium in CKD patients.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you suffer from CKD, have your doctor check your condition regularly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">End-stage kidney disease requires dialysis, the artificial filtration of blood. Doctors may also recommend kidney transplants for those whose kidneys have stopped working.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Get the Lowest Price for Chronic Kidney Disease Medications<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/3.jpeg-28.jpg\" alt=\"Happy senior\" width=\"512\" height=\"361\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic kidney disease medication can be costly, and managing this disease requires a long-term commitment. To minimize the financial impact of the medications, ensure that you get the lowest possible price for your CKD medications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With BidRx, you can create a bid and have pharmacies compete for your business. The one offering you the lowest price gets to deliver your CKD medications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find your chronic kidney disease and other medicines on our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/home\/Contents\/medication\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">medication page<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and place your bid today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Highlights\u00a0 What is chronic kidney disease? It is a progressive, widespread condition that affects the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":639,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chronic-kidney-disease-medications"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=638"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":643,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/638\/revisions\/643"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}