There are five stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) based on how well the kidneys work. In what state of CKD do you have? Your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) will tell you. It shows how well your kidneys clean your blood. It is important to take good care of your health and slow down the progression of CKD at every step. Your kidneys will last longer if you do this.
5 Stages Of Kidney Disease
Your kidneys may not work as well over time because kidney disease gets worse over time. But sometimes, being told that you have early-stage CKD means that you’ll move on to later stages. If you know what type of CKD you have, you can work with your doctor to keep your kidneys healthy.
Stage 1: eGFR of 90 or more
What It Means:
Damage to the kidneys that work well
Possible Signs And Symptoms:
Having high blood pressure, leg swelling, UTIs, and pee tests that don’t show anything is wrong.
What You Can Do:
- See your doctor often to keep an eye on your health, ask questions, and let them know if you notice any strange symptoms. Ask your doctor what your eGFR is at this very moment.
- If you want to live a healthy life, stop smoking, eat well, work out, reduce your worry, and get enough sleep.
- Do what it says on the bottle for all of your medicines, and talk to your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medicines.
Stage 2: eGFR 60–89
What It Means:
A slight drop in kidney function
Possible Signs And Symptoms:
Problems with the urine, knee pain, high blood pressure, and tests that don’t look right
What You Can Do:
- Check-in with your doctor often to keep an eye on your health. Ask them questions and let them know if you notice any strange symptoms. Ask your doctor what your eGFR is at this very moment.
- If you want to live a healthy life, stop smoking, eat well, work out, reduce your worry, and get enough sleep.
- You should talk to your doctor before taking any over-the-counter drugs.
Why You Need To See A Kidney Doctor
What’s the best doctor to help you deal with kidney disease? A nephrologist, who is also known as a kidney doctor. Your eGFR should be between 30 and 44. Ask your doctor to send you to a nephrologist.
Stage 3a: eGFR 45 To 59
What It Means:
Loss of kidney function that ranges from small to big
Possible Signs And Symptoms:
Having trouble going to the bathroom, having your feet and hands swell up, being weak or tired, having dry, itchy skin, back pain, or muscle cramps
What You Can Do:
- If your test results or symptoms change, you should talk to your doctor.
- If you are having trouble with your food, talk to a kidney nutritionist. Get smart about what you eat. Pick out some things that are good for your kidneys.
Stage 3b: eGFR 30 to 44
What It Means:
Kinds of kidney function loss, from mild to severe
Possible Signs And Symptoms:
Have swollen hands and feet, feel weak or tired, have skin that is dry and itchy, back pain, or muscle cramps.
What You Can Do:
- If your test results or symptoms change, you should talk to your doctor.
- Get in touch with your doctor about seeing a nephrologist, which is another name for a kidney doctor. To slow the progress of CKD, keep taking care of your health as well.
Stage 4: eGFR 15–29
What It Means:
Kidney function loss that is very bad
Possible Signs And Symptoms:
Anaemia, not wanting to eat, bone disease, and abnormally high or low levels of phosphorus, calcium, and vitamin D
What You Can Do:
- To get the best care and take charge of your health, follow the steps laid out in the earlier stages.
- Keep going to the doctor to see if there are any new symptoms or changes to the ones you already have.
- Talk to your doctor about what foods are good for your kidneys to make them last longer.
- Nephrologists are doctors who specialize in kidneys. They can help you figure out which treatment will work best for your lifestyle. Learn how to get a new kidney.
- Choose the type of entry you want to make and start making it.
- Build your support network by getting in touch with people who care about you and can help you.
Stage 5: eGFR is less than 15
What It Means:
Kidneys that don’t work or are almost broken
Possible Signs And Symptoms:
Sickness, vomiting, uremia, tiredness, shortness of breath, swollen hands, legs, eyes, or lower back, and lower back pain
What You Can Do:
- To get the best care and take charge of your health, follow the steps laid out in the earlier stages.
- What kinds of insurance perks do you have? Talk to your insurance manager about it.
- The nephrologist will check in with us often to see how things are going.
- As soon as you decide to do dialysis at home, get your treatment area ready and learn what to expect from the training.
- Before you go to a nearby centre for in-centre dialysis, make sure you know what you need to know.
- Learn as much as you can about how to stay busy and do well on dialysis. If you have a job, learn about your rights and how to take care of your work.
Conclusion
There are five stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and each one shows a different level of kidney function. You can slow the disease’s progress and live longer if you find it and treat it early. It is very important to make good lifestyle choices, check eGFR often, and work closely with a healthcare team that includes a nephrologist. If someone knows the signs and symptoms of each stage, they can take care of their kidney health and look into treatments like dialysis or a kidney transfer.