While exploring chronic kidney disease, it is necessary to understand the beginning if one wants to stop further damage. Being a sensitive organ, the signs of kidney damage show up very subtly at the beginning, aggravating quickly if not slowed down with the appropriate treatment. Today, we're going to look into understanding the first stage of chronic kidney disease and it's symptoms.
At the first stage of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), it’s vital to monitor the patient's health carefully and adopt lifestyle alterations that can aid them to slow the aggravation of CKD and lower the risk of further kidney damage and more complications.
At CKD stage 1, the kidneys are performing well, albeit not at 100% ability. As a consequence, many patients get a kidney disease stage 1 diagnosis only if they have a known history of kidney disease in the family or are under observation for other ailments like diabetes or elevated blood pressure. A medical professional can determine if the patient has stage 1 CKD by calculating the eGFR and assessing their overall health. Working closely with the physician can control damage and protect the renal function.
Many patients don't get any symptoms of CKD until the last few stages. Listed below are the few symptoms of stage 1 kidney disease
Symptoms to keep an eye out for :
If a person is diagnosed with stage 1 kidney disease, their blood work will probably show :
Other symptoms of CKD stage 1 include :
Doctors use Creatinine levels to assess the stage of kidney disease that a patient is at. It is used in calculating the eGFR to understand how effectively the kidneys are filtering the blood from waste and impurities.
A healthy kidney functions at 90% or better, as well as a patient with an eGFR of 90 or higher. A patient with stage 1 Kidney Disease will still show an eGFR of 90 or higher. If their eGFR dips between 60 to 89, they are considered to have stepped into stage 2 CKD. However, an eGFR in this range can, in instances noted as standard, depending on age, gender, weight, and other health characteristics.
If a patient is at stage 1, their kidneys are functioning only slightly less ideally than regular. Rarely are there any tangible symptoms of CKD in stage 1. Most who get stage 1 CKD don’t even know about it.
It can take several years for the disease to progress and become symptomatic.
There is a significant difference between CKD stage 1 and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, it doesn’t mean that a stage 1 diagnosis is to be taken lightly. At present, there is no cure for kidney disease. It’s fortunate if the patient has an early diagnosis since it gives them a fighting chance to prevent the disease’s advancement by trying to slow it down. This needs them to implement lifestyle changes immediately and address the manageable risks with a specialist.
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Since the kidneys of the patient are functioning well, with regular monitoring and diet they can live with stage 1 kidney disease for several years. Factors that come into play for the overall health of a person include their age, gender, underlying health problems, and regular lifestyle. Early diagnosis and treatment can help them live a longer and better quality of life.
It is unfortunate as there is no treatment and reversal for CKD, however one can start taking the necessary measures to slow the advancement. Every person uniquely experiences kidney disease; Many of those diagnosed in the beginning stages never get close to kidney failure. The ones who have the chance to undergo kidney failure can live a fulfilling life for decades with the proper treatment and more options. We hope our information helps you stay informed and take the correct steps at the right time!
