What Are The Most Common Kidney Health Concerns?

Kidney health is an extremely important aspect of overall health and wellness. Among our most vital organs, the kidneys are responsible for many things that keep our bodies healthy and functioning as they should, like regulating fluid levels and filtering toxins out of the bloodstream. In honor of the upcoming National Kidney Month, the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine thought it would be helpful to discuss some of the most common kidney health issues and the effects that they can have on a person’s health.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a condition that currently affects over 37 million adults in the US. People with CKD experience damage to their kidneys over time that prevents them from effectively cleaning and filtering the blood the way that healthy kidneys should. In its advanced stages, the condition can cause dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes, and wastes to build up in the body, increasing the risk of serious infection and potentially fatal kidney failure without proper treatment. In order to effectively treat chronic kidney disease, we must first determine if it is being caused by another underlying condition, like diabetes mellitus or high blood pressure.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones do not pose the same long-term health risk as Chronic Kidney Disease, but they are certainly nothing to take lightly. These hard deposits of minerals or salts can form inside the kidneys, as well as inside the ureter (the tubes that transport urine from the kidneys) or bladder. They can result from many things including an excess of mineral salts (including calcium) in the body. While they don’t always come with symptoms, kidney stones are often associated with intense pain, pressure in the kidney and bladder areas, nausea, and urination issues. Some stones may pass through the urine naturally, others may require minor surgical intervention.

Kidney Infections

Kidney infections (also known as pyelonephritis) is a unique type of urinary tract infection (UTI) that can affect the kidneys. These infections occur when an existing infection of the urethra or the bladder spreads upwards into the kidneys. Kidney infections can come with a multitude of symptoms including fever, chills, severe nausea, discomfort in the flanks, back, abdomen, or groin, and various urinary issues. In most cases, antibiotics are used as a treatment method for kidney infections.

When working to actively promote good kidney health, it’s essential to make healthy choices and keep up with annual appointments including screenings for kidney issues when appropriate. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Abraham Family Medicine. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.