The kidneys are two small, bean-shaped organs that do remarkably large jobs filtering more than 180 liters of blood a day, controlling blood pressure, balancing electrolytes, and making hormones that help red blood cell production and bone health. These functions are very important, but kidney disease often develops silently, without any obvious symptoms, until there has already been a lot of damage. Regular screening and timely kidney treatment in Chennai starts with prevention.
Silent progression of chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) often is called a “silent disease” because the early stages of the disease rarely cause obvious symptoms. A little high blood pressure, a little tired, a little change in frequency of urination are easy to ignore or misattribute. By the time obvious symptoms develop in patients severe fatigue, swelling in the legs, reduced urine output and confusion kidney function may already be severely impaired.
This is the importance of screening. CKD can be detected years before symptoms appear with a simple blood test for creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), along with a urine test for protein (albumin).
Who Needs to be Screened Regularly?
Anyone can get kidney disease. But some groups are much more likely to and need to be checked regularly:
People with diabetes, the number one cause of kidney failure globally. People with high blood pressure , because sustained high blood pressure damages the delicate blood vessels in the kidneys . People who have a family history of kidney disease or inherited diseases such as polycystic kidney disease. Obesity and smoking in patients with cardiometabolic disease. People aged over 60 years.
For these groups, routine monitoring of kidney function through annual tests is an important part of health maintenance.
The Connection Between Kidney Health and Overall Health
Health is closely related to the function of the kidney. As kidney function declines, it affects the heart, bones, blood and brain. Patients with CKD are at much higher risk of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in kidney patients. Other systemic effects of decreased kidney function include anemia, mineral imbalance and secondary hyperparathyroidism.
On the other hand, well-controlled kidney disease, with medication, diet, blood pressure and blood sugar control, protects not only the kidneys, but the whole body.
What Kidney Screening Entails
The usual kidney screening panel includes a serum creatinine test to estimate GFR, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio for early detection of protein leakage, a blood pressure measurement and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test. These are quick, cheap and can be done at any diagnostic centre.
If results indicate early kidney impairment, a nephrologist might recommend additional testing, which could include a kidney ultrasound, a 24-hour urine collection, or a renal biopsy, to determine the cause and recommend the right kidney treatment in Chennai.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure Always
Many of the risk factors for kidney disease are modifiable such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Treating high blood sugar and blood pressure with medicine and lifestyle changes greatly reduces the chance of developing CKD or slows the disease’s course in people who already have it. Other practical steps that everyone can take to protect their kidneys include staying well hydrated, avoiding NSAIDs and nephrotoxic medications without guidance, and not smoking.
One of the easiest ways to protect your health over the long term is to have your kidneys screened on a regular basis. It’s inexpensive, takes just minutes, and can provide you years of warning before serious kidney disease sets in.
GEM Hospital provides comprehensive nephrology services including screening for early detection and management of chronic kidney disease, dialysis and transplant evaluation. Their team of expert nephrologists provides personalized kidney treatment in Chennai that focuses on your quality of life at every stage. Contact us today to schedule your kidney health screening and take charge of your health.