The Silent Epidemic: Chronic Kidney Disease Could Become The World's 5th Biggest Killer By 2040 - Do You Know The Signs?

Somewhere between 788-844 million adults across the world are suffering from chronic kidney disease or CKD, which is one of the leading causes of mortality. According to The Lancet's latest CKD Series, the condition is projected to become the fifth leading cause of death globally by 2040. Researchers believe that what makes this disease even more dangerous is that it does not have many signs or symptoms in the early stages, and most people realise it only after the condition becomes advanced. The World Health Organization says that kidney disease frequently remains symptomless in its early stages and that is what makes timely screening and diagnosis critical.Also Read: India’s Silent Oral Cancer Crisis: How Gutkha Is Destroying Young Lives Faster

Than Ever

What Is Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease means that there is damage to your kidneys and they are not working as well as they should. Your kidneys are like a filter in your body, which takes out wastes, toxins, and extra water from your blood. They also help with other functions like bone and red blood cell health. So, when your kidneys begin to lose their function, they are not able to filter waste, which means the waste builds up in your blood.Kidney disease is also known as chronic because kidney function slowly decreases over time. CKD causes kidney failure, also called end-stage kidney disease. Not everyone with CKD will develop kidney failure, but the disease will often worsen without treatment. There’s no cure for chronic kidney disease.

What Causes Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease happens when your kidneys get damaged and are not able to filter your blood. With chronic kidney disease, the damage tends to happen over the course of several years. A few reasons include:

• Glomerulonephritis: This condition damages the glomeruli, which are the filtering units inside your kidneys.
• Polycystic kidney disease: It is a genetic disorder that causes many fluid-filled cysts to grow in your kidneys, reducing the ability of your kidneys to function.
• Membranous nephropathy: It is a disorder where your body’s immune system attacks the waste-filtering membranes in your kidneys.
• Kidney stones: Obstructions of the urinary tract due to stones
• Nephrotic syndrome: It is a collection of symptoms that indicate kidney damage.
• Diabetes-related nephropathy: It happens due to damage or dysfunction of one or more nerves, which is caused by diabetes.

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Symptoms Of Chronic Kidney Disease

A few signs and symptoms of kidney disease do not show any signs, but as the disease worsens, a few symptoms may include:

• A need to pee more often
• Tiredness, weakness, low energy level
• Loss of appetite
• Swelling of your hands, feet, and ankles
• Breathlessness
• Foamy or bubbly pee
• Puffy eyes
• Dry and itchy skin
• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Numbness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• High blood pressure
• Darkening of your skin