Kidney Disease Stages Explained: From Symptoms To Treatment


Many patients with kidney disease hope that their condition will improve or even reverse. However, it’s important to understand that your kidney disease won’t get better unless you fully grasp what’s happening. Initially, I believed that people in Pakistan had a good understanding of kidney disease, but I was completely mistaken. In today’s article, I will explain how kidney disease develops, how it progresses, and the factors that contribute to its worsening. I’ll also discuss basic steps you can take to slow down the progression of your kidney disease.

Assalamu Alaikum, I’m Dr. [Name] from Expert Clinic, Lahore. Before we dive in, I want to apologize if there are any issues with lighting or audio in this video. I always have my materials ready, but sometimes, due to the setup, there might be some problems. So, my apologies in advance. Now, let’s get back to the topic—kidney disease.

Common Misunderstandings About Kidney Disease

Based on the comments I’ve received on my videos, it seems that many people don’t fully understand kidney disease. For example, I often see comments like, “Doctor, I have a lot of protein in my urine. Can you recommend any medicine to reduce it?” or “My mother’s creatinine levels have increased, please suggest a way to lower them.” These comments highlight how superficial our understanding of kidney disease really is. We often take it lightly without realizing how complex the condition actually is.

The Complexity of Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is not only complex in itself, but it also leads to further complications that are even more challenging to manage. Unfortunately, many people simplify it to just having high creatinine levels or protein in the urine, without understanding the numerous underlying factors causing these issues. The reality is that the kidney undergoes significant changes that we are often unaware of.

Acute vs. Chronic Kidney Disease

In this article, we’ll discuss chronic kidney disease, commonly known as CKD. However, before we get into that, let me quickly clarify something that often confuses patients—the difference between acute kidney injury (AKI) and CKD.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): AKI refers to sudden damage to the kidneys caused by an injury or insult. Before the incident, your kidneys were functioning perfectly fine, but then something happened—like a blockage due to a stone or an issue with the prostate—that caused a sudden spike in creatinine levels. In such cases, if the underlying cause is identified and removed in time, kidney function can return to normal. This is what we call a reversible condition.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): On the other hand, CKD develops slowly over time. It is often detected at Stage 3 when your estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) drops below 60 mL/min, and creatinine levels are elevated. At this stage, roughly 70-80% of your kidney function may be lost.

The Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

CKD doesn’t appear overnight; it’s a process that unfolds over many years. The early stages (Stage 1 and Stage 2) often go unnoticed because the creatinine levels remain normal, and the eGFR is above 60 mL/min. However, structural damage is already happening in the kidneys.

Stage 1 and Stage 2 CKD

Stage 1 and Stage 2 CKD are characterized by structural damage to the kidneys, even though creatinine levels are normal. One example of this is proteinuria—leakage of protein into the urine—which indicates underlying kidney damage despite normal kidney function tests.

Another example is polycystic kidney disease, where cysts form in the kidneys. Again, the eGFR may still be normal, but structural changes are present.

The Risk Factors

The most concerning group is those at risk of CKD due to conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, insulin resistance, or metabolic syndrome. These individuals might have normal creatinine levels and eGFR, but microscopic changes are already occurring in the kidneys. Over time, these changes will manifest as CKD.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve discussed CKD, starting from Stage 3 and then working our way back to Stage 1 and Stage 2 to help you understand how kidney disease progresses. If you are diagnosed with CKD at Stage 3, it means that around 70% of your kidney function is already lost. The progression to this stage didn’t happen overnight; it’s the result of years of underlying issues.

Understanding kidney disease is crucial for managing it effectively. By knowing the stages and risk factors, you can take proactive steps to slow down the progression and improve your overall health.

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