Chronic Kidney Disease

Your kidneys are vital to your health. It is crucial that you watch for early warning signs of issues or problems you may be experiencing that could lead to kidney failure.

 

What Do The Kidneys Do In The Body?

The primary function of your kidneys is to filter out the toxins built up in your body. If your kidneys begin to cease to function properly, it can lead to a plethora of health problems. It can ultimately lead to the need for dialysis.

Kidney function is measured by how well the kidneys remove toxins from the blood by using a measurement called the Glomerular Filtration Rate, or GFR. There are five stages of kidney functioning. Stage 1 denotes normal or high-functioning kidneys, whereas stage 5 is end-stage renal (kidney) failure. Each subsequent stage from 2 through 4 indicates a percentage of the decline in GFR.

It is important to know that the initial decline of kidney functions, or renal disease, is often silent. The best way to prevent kidney injury is to moderate changes in your overall health and always consult with a doctor if anything seems out of the norm.

Here are three signs that could indicate that you are beginning to experience a decline in kidney function.

The First Signs of Kidney Failure

1. Dizziness and Fatigue

One of the first possible signs of weakening kidneys is the experience of overall weakness in yourself and your overall health. This can include feelings of dizziness or fatigue due to a build-up of toxins in the blood. Oddly enough, another fatiguing disorder, anemia, can be linked to kidney problems. If you find that you are unusually tired, don’t panic. This can also be caused by stress, overwork, or other typical day-to-day issues. But if you are getting enough rest and still feel more fatigued than normal, especially if you are finding yourself dizzy, see your physician immediately. Tell her or him what you are experiencing and ask that he refer you to a Kidney Specialist (Nephrologist) to be on the safe side. It’s best if your General Practitioner (GP) works with a Kidney Specialist on a regular basis, so you get the best overall care.

 

2. Swelling (Edema)

Though there are several causes of swelling, if you are swelling in your legs, ankles, wrist, or even around your eyes, this could be a sign that your kidneys are not functioning properly. This is often caused by electrolyte or other nutritional abnormalities that affect the proper filtration capacity of the kidneys. Lower extremity swelling can be a sign of heart disease, kidney disease, or other forms of poor circulation.

 

3. Changes in urination

A third possible sign of beginning kidney injury is a change in urination. Things like changes in the amount of urine, foaming, pale or dark urine, or red coloring could be a warning sign that you may be experiencing a problem. Whether or not the problem is simply dehydration or the beginning of severe kidney dysfunction, your doctor or specialist in the field can determine the issues.
With the exception of some acute (or immediate) problems, including seeing blood in the urine or an inability to urinate, or such isolated conditions in pregnancy like pre-eclampsia, kidney failure often moves through the five stages slowly. Noticing changes, including these three signs, can alert you and your doctor of potential problems early where intervention can often slow or halt progression. Always remember to drink plenty of water to aid in the filtration process and contact your doctor if you begin to experience any of these signs.

If you are experiencing more than one of these symptoms, make an appointment with your GP and talk about your next best steps. You mustn’t wait to get this checked out. The earlier renal failure is detected the better the chances of staving off major problems. No one wants to get to the point where dialysis is needed. Not all GPs work hand in hand with doctors who understand the issues of kidney problems the way a doctor who specializes in the health of one’s kidneys does. Be sure that your doctors work together and communicate with you about your options and the best choices you can make. If you are experiencing renal failure, there will be changes to your diet and your lifestyle that must be made. You will need to talk to both your GP and your Nephrologist to create a best-practice plan for your health.

At PRINE Health, we have both general practitioners and Nephrologists on staff who will work together to create the best plan for you. Please contact us if you would like more information.

Vitamins are important for everyone. The human body functions best when in balance. The best way to achieve optimum health is through a balanced diet, but with our busy lives and often unhealthy eating habits, diet alone may not work for many people. This is especially true for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is why good vitamins are important.

Our bodies need vitamins and minerals to help them with our most basic and critical bodily functions. It would be great if we could simply get everything we need from the foods we eat, but when that is not possible, vitamins will work to help your body repair tissue and get as much energy as possible from the foods you eat, so you maintain a healthier life. Vitamins and minerals are essential for the overall health of your body.

People suffering from kidney disease, especially those on dialysis, may not be getting enough of the daily vitamins needed to increase their health and assist with keeping CKD under as much control as possible. This can lead to issues such as skin lesions, fatigue, muscle weakness, and nerve pain.

When dealing with CKD, there may be a variety of reasons why a patient may not be able to get all the recommended vitamins needed. Some water-soluble vitamins will have more stringent requirements to work well with issues CKD may cause. Some kidney medicines may not play well with specific vitamins. If you have CKD, your waste products will likely build up and affect how vitamins react to your body. Your physician will likely make changes in your diet so you may not get some of the vitamins from certain foods no longer part of your day-to-day foods and eating habits will change based on how well you feel day-to-day. Some days your appetite may not be robust.

 

Vitamins that are typically recommended for CKD patients:

B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, and biotin, as well as some vitamin C, are essential vitamins for people with CKD. Vitamin C may be suggested in low doses as large doses can cause a buildup of oxalate. Oxalate can cause build-up in bones and soft tissue and can be painful over time.

You will often see B complex vitamins grouped together, but each of the B vitamins plays a different role. Pantothenic acid and niacin are part of the B complex group and are taken so that the food you eat can more easily be turned into the energy your body will need. B1, B2, B6, B12, and folic acid work in conjunction with iron, preventing you from becoming anemic. Your doctor will decide if you need to take iron and, if so, what dosage.

Vitamin C can help bruises heal faster, and your doctor will probably recommend adding this to your vitamin regimen. Vitamin D is also significant, especially in maintaining healthy bones. If you’re dealing with CKD, your doctor will recommend what type of vitamin D and dosage is needed.

You will likely need to avoid some vitamins if you have kidney disease. A, E, and K can cause nausea and dizziness at the very least if too much of these build up in your system over time.

 

What about herbal remedies and supplements?

It is best to avoid herbal remedies and supplements sold over the counter if you suffer from chronic kidney disease and are on dialysis. These remedies may cause issues when interacting you’re your doctor-prescribed medicines and may cause serious side effects. Always ask your doctor before taking any vitamin or supplement.

 

What is the best way to get the vitamins I need if I am dealing with CKD?

No one wants to take several pills every day. Filling pillboxes and remembering to take every vitamin needed to stay as healthy as possible can be cumbersome. Dealing with CKD is a challenge. If it is at all possible, you will be better off taking one vitamin formula that includes everything your body needs.

PRINE Health has created a formula called PRINE VITE, which includes vitamins B1, B2, B6, B 12, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, and biotin, as well as a small dose of vitamin C. PRINE VITE also includes Vitamin D 1000 IU and a higher dosage of B1 which has been shown to decrease and potentially reserve early diabetic kidney disease. This formula also contains two herbs, Dandelion Extract, known for its anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and cholesterol-lowering effects, and Uva Ursi, which has a history of aiding the urinary tract and UTIs. This formula is also gluten-free and non-GMO.

For more information on PRIVE VITE, or if you seek the advice of a Nephrologist, visit us at https://prinehealth.com/