Nephrologist’s Note features timely information provided by physicians in the greater tri-state area.
 Renal disease and cardiovascular disease are closely linked. In fact, the cause of death for most people with renal disease is heart or vascular disease, such as heart attack or stroke, often as a result of hardening of the arteries. Effectively managing kidney disease requires preventing or controlling disease throughout your body.
The kidneys are essentially a series of blood vessels where fluids and minerals are balanced and toxins are excreted. To ensure adequate long-term function, kidneys may actually prefer a lower blood pressure than is circulating in the rest of the body. Therefore, even a slightly elevated blood pressure puts stress on the kidneys. Aggressive treatment of high blood pressure in people with progressive renal disease can help prevent further loss of kidney function. If the life of the kidney is to be extended, patients need to work hard at maintaining their blood pressure in the ideal range of 125/75.
Another key factor in extending the function of a kidney is reducing the amount of protein lost in the urine each day. Excretion of protein through the urine causes inflammation and damages the architecture of the kidney. To prevent injury to the kidney, the goal level of protein loss must be less than 1 gram per day. There are several common medications available that can minimize loss of protein. A physician can measure the amount of protein excreted in the patient’s urine by testing a morning urine sample.
Lowering cholesterol levels, quitting smoking and regular exercise can also improve your overall health, reduce your chances for developing heart disease and slow the progression of renal disease.
One of the first symptoms of renal disease is getting up during the night with a need to urinate. People often interpret this as merely a sign of age and do not see their doctor until the kidney disease has become advanced. Unfortunately, by the time a patient’s serum creatinine level is elevated, that person has often lost a significant level of his or her kidney function.
Managing progressive renal disease requires complex care that is best provided by a nephrologist, a physician who specializes in diseases of the kidney. It is important to see a nephrologist as early as possible if you have kidney disease or a family history of kidney disease. This will ensure that the progressive nature of renal disease is properly managed and the potential need for dialysis or kidney transplantation are delayed as long as possible
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