Kidney Disease

Signs and symptoms of kidney disease may not appear until irreversible damage has occurred.  Because many medical conditions increase the risk of kidney disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, and in the early stages of kidney disease these signs may not be apparent, medical treatment focuses on understanding and controlling the underlying cause of the condition. Even though chronic kidney disease can progress to a need for dialysis or transplant, there are preventive steps to reduce the risk of developing kidney disease. These include conferring with your doctor about controlling other medical conditions that contribute to or increase the risk of kidney damage, maintaining a healthy weight, and discontinue smoking. Psychological attitudes about this condition are also important to its management.