Chronic kidney disease may affect up to 600 million people worldwide. Sometimes, chronic kidney disease is associated with a complete loss of the organ's capacity. What causes chronic kidney disease?
Chronic kidney disease(CKD) is associated with permanent loss of kidney function. It can be the result of, for example, diabetes or high blood pressure. Currently, it is estimated that approximately 600 million people worldwide (4.2 million in Poland) suffer to some extent from CKD. This number is much higher than in the case of patients with asthma (considered to be the most common chronic disease in the world), which is approx. 300 million.
Chronic Kidney Disease: Complications
An almost inevitable consequence of chronic kidney disease isanemia , characterized by low levels of hemoglobin, the oxygen-transporting protein found in red blood cells (the kidneys play an important role in their production). Renal anemia makes it difficult to supply oxygen to all tissues and organs of the body, which in turn adversely affects our overall he alth and well-being. Cardiovascular disease is more common in people with CKD than in others, affecting almost 40% of patients. It is also the most common cause of death in patients suffering from this kidney disease. Renal anemia, on the other hand, contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease as the heart is forced to work harder to supply the body with oxygen. Over time, the heart muscle increases in volume to compensate for the increased exertion. This mechanism, called left ventricular hypertrophy, lowers the heart's performance and increases its workload. Ultimately, the progressive damage can lead to heart failure. Renal anemia, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease all form a vicious cycle as the symptoms of each condition worsen the symptoms of the others (this is known as the cardio-renal syndrome). Progressive CKD can lead to extreme kidney failure, and then it becomes necessary to replace them. natural function through dialysis (artificial kidney) or transplant.
ImportantRole of the kidneys
People have two kidneys located on either side of the spine at the back of the abdomen.The right one is located just below the liver, while the left one is under the diaphragm - the asymmetry resulting from the location of the liver places the right kidney slightly lower than the left one. The kidneys resemble beans in shape. Each is about 13 cm long and about 8 cm wide, so the size is similar to the size of a fist. The kidneys play a number of important functions in the body, including they cleanse the blood and filter out excess water and waste products of metabolism, release hormones and remove some drugs and toxins from the blood.
Cardiovascular disease is more common in people with CKD than in others, affecting almost 40% of patients. It is also the most common cause of death in patients suffering from this kidney disease. Renal anemia, on the other hand, contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease as the heart is forced to work harder to supply the body with oxygen. Over time, the heart muscle increases in volume to compensate for the increased exertion. This mechanism, called left ventricular hypertrophy, lowers the heart's performance and increases its workload. Ultimately, the progressive damage can lead to heart failure. Renal anemia, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease all form a vicious cycle as the symptoms of each condition worsen the symptoms of the others (this is known as the cardio-renal syndrome). Progressive CKD can lead to extreme kidney failure, and then it becomes necessary to replace them. natural function through dialysis (artificial kidney) or transplant.