Fear of kidney disease: How to detect it early?

The incidence of kidney disease is increasing, while many cases are still unclear. This makes many people, even without symptoms, still worry about whether they have kidney disease or not.

Below, experts at Bali International Hospital (India) will show you how to recognize the signs of kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease is a condition in which the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste products and excess fluid from the blood. This damage develops over months or years and often has no obvious symptoms in the early stages, so many people don't realize they have the disease until it's severe.

If left untreated, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant. However, there is no other way to detect chronic kidney disease than through testing. Early detection through regular checkups and proper care can slow or prevent kidney damage, according to Bali International Hospital.

Fatigue, decreased energy... these could be signs of chronic kidney disease.

Illustration: AI

Why is early detection of chronic kidney disease important?

Early detection of chronic kidney disease is crucial because it is often only recognized when the kidneys are severely damaged, making treatment difficult and sometimes requiring immediate dialysis. This is because chronic kidney disease develops silently, without causing pain, and its initial symptoms are easily overlooked or mistaken for other conditions.

Without testing, many people don't realize they have kidney problems until it's too late for intervention.

Early detection of kidney disease helps:

• Reduce or delay the need for dialysis.
• Reduce treatment costs.
• Preventing emergency situations.

Therefore, kidney screening should be part of a routine health check-up, especially for people with diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease.

The role of routine kidney screening

Chronic kidney disease can silently reduce kidney function by more than 30% before symptoms appear. Regular screenings are the best way to detect the problem early.

The two main tests recommended are:

Urine test : Checks for the presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria or albumin-creatinine ratio).

Blood test : Measure creatinine and estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

These tests are simple, inexpensive, and easily accessible. For those at high risk, regular checkups help detect kidney damage early and allow for timely intervention to prevent disease progression.

Warning signs of kidney disease

In its early stages, chronic kidney disease often has no obvious symptoms, but as the disease progresses, patients may notice:

• High blood pressure is difficult to control.
• Protein in urine (detected through laboratory testing).
• Swelling of the hands, feet, or face.
• Fatigue, decreased energy.
• Changes in the amount or frequency of urination.

These signs don't necessarily indicate chronic kidney disease, but they should be checked early. The earlier it's detected, the greater the chance of slowing disease progression, avoiding dialysis, and improving quality of life.

Early detection can save your kidneys and help you live a healthier, longer life.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lo-so-mac-benh-than-lam-sao-de-phat-hien-som-18525102417190451.htm