What is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?

Chronic Kidney Disease is when the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys become damaged and they can no longer continue to fully filter all the good stuff from the waste. This damage happens over time and this gradual loss of kidney function, happening over months or years, is called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). 

Two of the main causes of CKD in New Zealand are diabetes and high blood pressure. Continued high blood sugars over time from diabetes or continued high blood pressure is a bit like having sandpaper in your blood vessels. Over time, they can cause damage, including to the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys. When this happens, our kidney’s filtering system doesn’t work as well. So instead of excreting the waste products from our body in our urine, some of them can build up in our body. 

CKD often develops slowly and may not cause noticeable symptoms at first. Sometimes, you can lose up to 90% of your kidney function before you notice any symptoms of kidney disease. 

Unfortunately, it is very common and around 1 in 10 adults has some level of kidney damage. If not managed well, CKD can lead to kidney failure (which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant), heart disease and stroke as well as electrolyte and fluid imbalances. 

Early detection, good medical care, and healthy lifestyle choices can make a real difference in slowing the progression of CKD. 

If you have any questions about your kidneys or chronic kidney disease, give us a call on 0800 235 711 or get in touch with us.