You must know that there are 5 progressive stages of kidney failure. In addition, symptoms may vary from stage to stage and become severe as diseases progress.
Let me tell you the ins and outs of these 5 stages and how you can treat these stages.
How are the 5 stages of kidney failure determined?
The first step is to know how kidney disease, also known as renal disease, is classified into phases. The estimated glomerular filtration rate is the primary indicator of kidney health (GFR). The GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is the rate at which fluid is filtered by the kidneys. A healthy kidney has a higher filtration rate. Reduced or inadequate kidney function, whether owing to disease or injury, is indicated by a decreased rate.
Creatinine in your bloodstream is used to calculate your kidneys’ filtration rate. Creatinine is produced in the body when it metabolizes creatine phosphate, a crystalline molecule produced by daily muscular action.
Creatinine is removed from the bloodstream by the kidneys. The less creatinine your kidneys filter out, the higher your creatinine level is. The amount of creatinine in your blood will be determined by a serum test. This test is crucial for determining your kidney function.
Stage 1 Kidney disease:
Your eGFR is 90 or more in stage 1 kidney disease.
When your eGFR is 90 or higher, your kidneys are usually healthy and functioning properly, but you have other signs of renal impairment. Kidney disease can be detected by either protein in your urine (pee) or actual damage to your kidneys. In Stage 1 kidney disease, there are a few things you may do to assist slow down the damage to your kidneys:
- If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control.
- Keep your blood pressure in check.
- Consume a nutritious diet and refrain from smoking or using cigarettes.
- Physical activities for 30 minutes daily
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Visit your doctor to see if any medications can help protect your kidneys.
- Even if you currently have a general doctor, schedule an appointment with a nephrologist (kidney specialist).
Stage 2 Kidney disease:
When you have stage 2 CKD, you have minor kidney damage and an eGFR of 60 to 89.
Typically, your kidneys are healthy and functioning properly if your eGFR is 60 to 89. With stage 2 kidney disease, however, your eGFR will be normal, but you will have additional symptoms of kidney damage. A protein level in your urine (pee) or actual kidney damage are both signs of kidney disease. In Stage 2 kidney disease, there are a few things you may take to assist slow down the damage to your kidneys:
- Keep your blood sugar under control.
- Keep your blood pressure in check.
- Refrain from smoking or using cigarettes.
- 30 minutes of physical activity, 5 days a week
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Consult your doctor to see if any medications can help protect your kidneys.
- Even if you currently have a general doctor, schedule an appointment with a nephrologist (kidney specialist).
Stage 3 kidney disease:
If you have stage 3 CKD, your eGFR is between 30 and 59.
The eGFR of 30 to 59 indicates that your kidneys are damaged and are not functioning properly.
Stage 3 is divided into two sections:
- If your eGFR is between 45 and 59, you’re in stage 3a.
- If your eGFR is between 30 and 44, you’re in stage 3b.
Many persons with renal disease in Stage 3 don’t show any signs or symptoms. However, the signs and symptoms include:
- Your hands and feet are swollen.
- Back pain
- More or less urinating (peeing) than usual
As waste builds up in your body, your kidneys fail to function correctly, you’re more prone to develop health problems, such as:
- Blood pressure that is too high
- Anemia
- Bone diseases
You can do the following to keep your Stage 3 kidney disease from growing worse:
- Visit a nephrologist (kidney doctor), who will devise a treatment plan tailored to your needs and advise you on how frequently your kidneys should be examined.
- Meet with a dietician who can assist you in maintaining a healthy diet.
- Talk to your doctor about ACE inhibitors and ARBs, which are blood pressure medications. These medications can sometimes help prevent renal disease from worsening.
Stage 4 kidney disease:
In stage 4 kidney disease, your eGFR will be between 15 and 29.
An eGFR between 15 and 30 indicates that your kidneys have been moderately or severely damaged and are no longer functioning correctly. Kidney diseases in stage 4 should be addressed very seriously because it is the final stage before kidney failure occurs.
Your doctor will advise you to do the following to keep kidney disease from worsening at this stage:
- Meet with a nephrologist (kidney doctor) regularly, who will devise a treatment plan that is suited for you and tell you how often your kidneys should be evaluated.
- You should take blood pressure medications such as ACE inhibitors or ARBs. These medications can occasionally help prevent kidney disease from worsening if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.
This is the moment to begin talking to your nephrologist about preparing for renal failure if you have stage 4 kidney disease. You’ll require dialysis or a kidney transplant if your kidneys fail.
Stage 5 kidney disease:
At this stage, your eGFR decreases to less than 15.
An eGFR of less than 15 indicates that the kidneys are on the brink of failure or have already failed altogether. Waste builds up in your blood when your kidneys fail and make the situation worse.
The following are some of the signs and symptoms of renal failure:
- Itching
- Muscle spasms
- Feeling sick and nausea
- You will not feel hungry
- Swollen hands and feet
- Back pain
- More or less urinating (peeing) than usual
- Breathing problems
- Sleeping problems
You’ll need dialysis or a kidney transplant if your kidneys fail.
Getting ready for dialysis: When your kidneys fail, dialysis is used to purify your blood. You need to consider the type of dialysis, how to schedule your treatments, and how they will impact your everyday life. Learn about the differences between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Getting ready for a transplant: A kidney transplant is an operation that replaces your failing kidney with a healthy one from someone else’s body. Dialysis may not even be necessary if you can find a living kidney donor. When your kidneys are on the verge of failing, you may be eligible for a transplant. Find out more about kidney transplantation.
FAQs
What are the signs of kidney failure?
- Water retention/swelling of legs and feet.
- Loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.
- Shortness of breath.
- Insomnia and sleep issues.
- Itchiness, cramps, and muscle twitches.
What happens when your kidney starts to shut down?
If your kidneys stop working altogether, your body will fill up with water and waste products. Uremia is the medical term for this condition. Your hands or feet may swell. Because your body needs clean blood to function correctly, you will feel tired and weak.
How long can you live with kidney failure?
If CKD progresses quickly and the patient denies therapy, the patient’s life expectancy may be only a few years. With careful care and regular dialysis treatments, even persons with severe renal failure can live for years.
Book an appointment now, to answer all your queries. You can book an appointment with the top Urologists in Karachi through Marham.
